DAILY DEVIONALS: 4.9.22

Being Approachable By Debbie Holloway “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And beingfound in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!” - Philippians 2:5 It is nigh impossible to be wholly truthful and also be universally liked. It is very difficult to believe strange things and be popular. It is unlikely that one who lives as a servant will draw fame and admiration from people in high places. Thankfully, Jesus calls us neither to be universally liked, popular, famous, or admirable in the eyes of wealthy men. But hold it – we can’t just stop there. Beware, lest we swagger with pride in the knowledge that being disliked, unpopular, and obscure will place us in high standing with our Lord. God has a distinct mission for us: to reach the world with the Gospel (thatis, John 3:16). He has also set a distinct example for us to follow as we live and try to proclaim that gospel through our words and actions.All too often, however, we fall short of his example and become entirely unapproachable to the exact people we should be loving and reaching with God’s truth and love. Was Jesus unapproachable? Did his firm stances on God’s truth leave others afraid to challenge him, ask questions, or be imperfect in his presence? Let’s look to Scripture. 1. People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongsto such as these” (Luke 18:15). Not only does this infer that children were at ease in the presence of Christ, but that parents were comfortable handing their infants to this man to hold and bless! If you are a parent, you understand the implications of these verses. If not, then know:it’s a big deal to give someone your kid. Jesus lived in such a way that not only did children trust him, but parents trusted him with their children. 2. While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and taxcollectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mark 2:15). In this passage Jesus attracts both the wicked and the righteous – neither group seems afraid to approach him. But while the Pharisees consistently attack Jesus with purposes of trapping or confounding him, the sinners and tax collectors love to walk withhim, eat with him, drink with him, listen to his words. His sermons don’t scare them away; his words aren’t laced with shame and guilt-trips. Rather, he speaks of how to please God, how to love one another, and he fascinates them by turning old notions ofrighteousness upside down – all in a way that makes people want to listen to him and follow him. He patiently administers to sinners as a doctor gently aids a sick man. 3. Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth (Matthew19:21). It’s true, people did leave Jesus. People rejected him and turned away from what he had to say. But notice in this passage of the rich young ruler, Jesus did not reject him. Jesus did not turn him away – rather the man "sadly" left Jesus because his heart did not truly seek perfection by God’s standards. Are you regarded with suspicion in the eyes of others? Do sinners keep their distance, knowing you are not a safe place for them to live imperfectly? Do you turn people away because of their reluctance to follow Kingdom standards? If so, you may need torevisit the Jesus of the Gospels. Intersecting Faith and Life: Think of one area in your life that needs a good dose of humility and servitude, and inject some Jesus into it! Further Reading Matthew mark luke john -------------------------- Arrowsin the Hand “As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.” (Psalm127:4) This is the central verse in the 101 verses contained in a remarkable group of 15 psalms called “The songs of degrees” (Psalms120–134). The central verse in the central psalm of this group is the preceding verse: “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward” (Psalm127:3). The origin of these psalms and this peculiar superscript has always been uncertain. Four are said to be by David, one by Solomon; the other 10 are anonymous. A reasonable supposition, however, is that they were composed by King Hezekiah after he had been miraculously healed of a lethal illness. “I will add unto thy days fifteen years,” God had said, and gave Hezekiah a miraculous sign as confirmation, causing theshadow on the sundial of Ahaz to go “backward ten degrees” (2Kings 20:6, 10). In thanksgiving thereof, the king proclaimed, “Therefore we will sing my songs...all the days of our life in the house of the LORD” (Isaiah38:20). It is significant that the word for “degrees” is the same in both cases. It apparently means “steps” or “ascents.” The shadow miraculously ascended 10 steps back up the sundial after it had gone down, and Hezekiah’s life was miraculously extended 15 years.Perhaps, therefore, “my songs” mean the 10 songs the king composed in commemoration of the 10 degrees. He then added five songs of David to round out the total to 15, corresponding to his added “days of our life.” And right at the center was his great testimonyto the blessing of children. He was childless at the time, but he had a son three years later (2Chronicles 33:1) by whom he was able to continue the Messianic line promised to David through Solomon. HMM ------------------------ Thoughtful Living Psalms 25:8-15 Are you living thoughtfully and intentionally—or automatically? It’s so easy to get up each morning, do our work, enjoy some relaxation or entertainment, and fall into bed each night without giving any thought to God’s involvement in our lives. But to beignorant of how He has blessed, guided, protected, and warned us is a foolish way to live. Just consider the benefits of keeping our spiritual eyes and ears open throughout the day. Those who are aware of the Lord’s presence during their daily activities enjoy the peace of knowing that He is always in control and working to accomplish His good purposes. Every day’s experiences with Him teach them to know and love Him more. When we learn to see God’s footprints in our days, we will become aware of the scope of His involvement in our lives. Maybe He strengthened you for a task or opened a door of opportunity. Perhaps He guided your decisions or helped you respond in a godlyway to a difficult person. If our ears are open to the Lord’s warnings and instructions, we won’t repeat the same mistakes again and again. But those who are deaf to His voice will continue in unhealthy thought patterns, negative emotions, and foolish responses. Each night before you go to sleep, take some time to reflect on the day’s activities. The Lord is constantly with you, guarding and guiding your way. He wants you to see Him in everything and understand life from His perspective as you rely on His wisdomand power to face any challenge. ----------------------- Learning to Make This Day Count “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm90:12) The book of Psalms is divided into five “books.” Book 4 begins with the oldest psalm written by the psalms’ oldest author, Moses. This book was assembled after the Babylonian captivity following the Jews’ return to Jerusalem during the lifespan of Zerubbabel,Ezra, and Nehemiah. Book 4 contains many parallels, including between Israel’s 40 years of desert wandering and the Babylonian captivity. Both scenarios, sadly, came about because a disobedient generation of Israelites defiantly rebelled against God. Why put this psalm at the beginning of Book 4? The Holy Spirit through the pen of Moses wanted to impress on God’s chosen people then and now that there is only one Person in the universe who will teach His children to live in obedience. That person is Yahweh!God doesn’t want His people to repeat the same mistakes of the past, living life in disobedience apart from God’s wisdom. Think about the 40 years of wasted wandering and another 70 years in exile as a result of ignoring God’s precious Word. Before we, living in the 21st century, cast proverbial stones at these people, let’s ask ourselves this question: How are we ordering our lives and allowing Yahweh to teach us so that we may “gain a heart of wisdom” as we live out the few numbered days we haveon this earth? Our goal as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ should be to refrain from following the same sinful patterns of disobedience depicted in this psalm and make this day count for Yahweh. CM ---------------------- The Significant Life by Sarah Phillips "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see yousick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25: 37 - 40 Have you ever felt dissatisfied with life? Have you ever wondered if perhaps God intended you for bigger things than what you're doing right now or that perhaps your chance at leaving a mark on this world has passed you by? If you grew up in my generation, you were probably encouraged to dream big and to make a difference in the world. Depending on how your life has played out so far, you may be experiencing some disappointment as your youthful ideals clashed with the hardrealities of life. ------------------- The Necessity of the Cross Colossians 2:13-15 What does the cross mean to you? Many people in the world today view it as a symbol of Christianity, but stop and think about what it represented in Christ's day. Nobody wore a miniature cross around the neck or displayed one in a place of worship. The crosswas a torturous means of execution, and the mere thought of it was repulsive. Yet believers throughout the ages have chosen this as the sign of their faith. In fact, to remove the cross from our teaching and theology would leave nothing but an empty, powerless religion. The subjects of death, blood, and sacrifice have become unpopular in many churches because they're unpleasant and uncomfortable topics.We'd prefer to hear about the love of God, not the suffering of Jesus. But let me ask you this: How could anyone be saved if Christ had not been crucified? Some people think all you have to do to receive God's forgiveness is ask Him for it. But a sinner's request can never be the basis for His forgiveness. He would cease tobe holy and just if no penalty was imposed for sin. According to Scripture, there can be no forgiveness without the shedding of blood (Heb.9:22). Christ had to bear the punishment for our sin in order for God to grant us forgiveness. Every time you see a cross, remember what it really was--an instrument of execution. Then thank Jesus that He was willing to be crucified so the Father could forgive you of sin. Though the scene of your redemption was horrendous, Christ turned the cross into a place of great triumph. --------------------------- The Workmanship of God “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained thatwe should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10) The Greek noun poiēma (“workmanship”) is only used twice in the New Testament, which is noteworthy given that at least eight different noun options existed in this particular semantic domain that Paul could have used. In contrast, the verb from whichit is derived (poieō, to do or to make) is quite common and used 576 times in the New Testament. Significantly, ancient pagan Greek literature typically used poiēma to refer to works of divine creation, which Paul has appropriated for two of his epistles to refer to the true Creator. In this amazing workmanship of salvation, we literally become new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17), created for good works that God prepared beforehand inorder “that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). One of these scripturally mandated works is to “be ready always to give an answer to every man thatasketh you a reason of the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). This mandate to be prepared to share our faith in the midst of an increasingly evil world leads us to the second place where God’s workmanship (poiēma) is proclaimed. Romans 1:20 boldly points out the obvious handiwork of God: “For the invisible thingsof him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made [poiēma, handiwork].” Our mighty Creator God, the Lord Jesus Christ, has done the groundwork for us in creation and redemption, and it’s our responsibility to tear down the vain imaginations of evolution and point to His workmanship. JPT ------------------------- TheWorkmanship of God “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained thatwe should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10) The Greek noun poiēma (“workmanship”) is only used twice in the New Testament, which is noteworthy given that at least eight different noun options existed in this particular semantic domain that Paul could have used. In contrast, the verb from whichit is derived (poieō, to do or to make) is quite common and used 576 times in the New Testament. Significantly, ancient pagan Greek literature typically used poiēma to refer to works of divine creation, which Paul has appropriated for two of his epistles to refer to the true Creator. In this amazing workmanship of salvation, we literally become new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17), created for good works that God prepared beforehand inorder “that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). One of these scripturally mandated works is to “be ready always to give an answer to every man thatasketh you a reason of the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). This mandate to be prepared to share our faith in the midst of an increasingly evil world leads us to the second place where God’s workmanship (poiēma) is proclaimed. Romans 1:20 boldly points out the obvious handiwork of God: “For the invisible thingsof him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made [poiēma, handiwork].” Our mighty Creator God, the Lord Jesus Christ, has done the groundwork for us in creation and redemption, and it’s our responsibility to tear down the vain imaginations of evolution and point to His workmanship. JPT -------------------------- TurningWorry into Worship - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. �Isaiah 26:3 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/turning-worry-into-worship/- Listen Remember what it was like when you first learned how to drive a car? You were so excited, but then you got behind the wheel and realized there were so many things to remember. When you�re coming to a turn, for example, you have to remember to signal your turn. Then you have to remember to turn the signal off afterward. But once you�ve driven fora while, you don�t even think about these things because you�ve developed a conditioned reflex. A conditioned reflex is something we�ve learned to do. On the other hand, a natural reflex is something we feel immediately without being told that we should feel it. Forinstance, if I put my hand close to a fire, I�ll immediately pull it back because it�s hot and hurts. That�s a natural reflex. Now let�s apply this to worry. We need to develop a conditioned reflex and get into the habit of turning to God when we feel worried. When trouble comes our way, and itwill, our first inclination�our natural reflex, if you will�is to worry. We need to teach ourselves to pray instead. The moment you start to panic, turn your panic into prayer. Turn your worry into worship. Turn to God immediately. That is what the apostle Paul was saying when he wrote, �Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be madeknown to God� (Philippians 4:6 NKJV). We pray about the big things, but let�s not forget about the little things. Little problems can turn into big problems, especially if we neglect them. Maybe you�ve thought, �I can handle this, and it will never be a problem for me.� But then one day you realize it�s a big problem. Little things turn into big things. So,the next time you�re tempted to worry, pray instead. ------------------------------- Right Thinking and Praying - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Then you will experience God�s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. �Philippians 4:7 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/right-thinking-and-praying/- Listen If you want to overcome worry, it starts with right praying. The apostle Paul wrote, �Don�t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experienceGod�s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus� (Philippians 4:6�7 NLT). Paul used a military term for the word guard. He was saying, �God�s peace will stand guard around your heart and protect you.� So when your mind is flooded with worry, youcan say, �Lord, I cast all of my care upon You because Your Word tells me that You care for me, and Your peace will guard my heart and mind.� God�s peace will stand guard over the two areas of your life that cause worry: the heart, which represents our emotions and feeling, and the mind, which refers to our thinking. Not only do we need right praying, but we also need right thinking. Paul went on to say, �Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely,and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise� (verse 8 NLT). The Message puts it this way: �Summing it all up, friends, I�d say you�ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling,gracious�the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse� (MSG). What we think about ultimately affects what we do, so we need to remind ourselves of what is true. We all will have moments of despair, lapses of faith, and times in ourlives when we don�t understand what is going on. That�s why we need to turn to the word of God. When we pray instead of worry and rejoice instead of panic, we will have peace. -------------------------- The Power of Words By Anna Kuta �Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit� - Proverbs 18:21. We�ve all heard the phrase �Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.� In my mind, that statement couldn�t be further from the truth. Words are powerful. We�ve all, no doubt, been wounded at some point by careless, unkind or mean statements. Their effect on our lives, even years later, is undeniable. No matter how much we deny it, it still makes us cringe to remember the taunts of thesecond-grade bully on the playground and makes us want to crawl under a rock to think of that rumor spreading through the high school hallways. �Death and life are in the power of the tongue,� Proverbs 18:21 says. The impact our words have on others cannot be overstated. One small comment or remark can make the difference between building a relationship up or tearing it down. We have the power to either encourage or destroy others with our speech. The Bible speaks extensively about the power of words � especially positive ones � and warns about the dangers of careless ones. �A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger,� says Proverbs 15:1. �Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones,� Proverbs 16:24 adds. Ephesians 4:29 says, �Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.� And Matthew 12:36-37 says: �But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.� One particular instance of the power of words in my life stands out in my mind � one that, without exaggerating, very likely changed my whole course at that time. It was early in the second semester of my sophomore year of college, and I was trudging upthe stairs of the journalism building to turn in an assignment. Freshman year and the first half of sophomore year had been rough for a variety of reasons, and now I was struggling to juggle my classes, work and personal issues and keep my head afloat. I hadto officially declare my major in just a few weeks, but I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. It was one of those weeks where I seemed to be failing on every assignment, and to top it off, I had just come from a disastrous meeting with an econ professorwho made me feel stupid for not understanding an �easy� problem. Even in my journalism classes � my best subject � I couldn�t seem to get into the swing of things. The harder I tried, the worse the results seemed to be. I was beginning to worry that majoringin journalism would be the most terrible idea of my life, and I was, in all honesty, becoming more and more tempted to give it all up completely and go take a semester off somewhere. On my way out of the journalism building, I passed two of my professors talking in the hallway. I said hi to them and kept walking, but after I rounded the corner I stopped short as I heard one of them say to the other, �Anna is one of the most hard-workingand good journalism students.� I don�t know if he meant for me to overhear his statement, and I don�t remember hearing either of them say a single other thing, but his words made me freeze and stand there for a good 10 seconds. A good student � that�s reallywhat he thought? My work was paying off? I wasn�t a total journalistic failure who would never succeed as a writer? It was like right then and there something went off in my mind. I hadn�t even realized I needed the encouragement, but suddenly my whole outlookchanged. If that�s what my professor thought of me, then I was determined not to let him down. Many times throughout the rest of college when I doubted myself or just needed a pick-me-up, I thought back to his comment. He became one of my most trusted mentors,and before I graduated I was finally able to tell him how his words that day had probably been the turning point in my whole academic career. To this day, I still don�t know what it was about that one simple statement � but I do know its impact went a thousandtimes beyond what my professor could have ever imagined. impact went a thousand times beyond what my professor could have ever imagined. A kind, positive or encouraging word at the right time can truly be life-changing. Your words hold the power to breathe an attitude of death or life into others � which will you choose? Intersecting Faith & Life: Let us strive to remember the power of our words and their impact on those who hear them. Think twice before making a negative statement, and instead find a way to pass along an encouraging word today. Further Reading 1 Peter 3:10 Colossians 3:8 Proverbs 15 ------------------------------------ The Greatest Act of Love Romans 5:6-11 What do you think about when you see a depiction of Christ on the cross? Most of us are overwhelmed by the physical and emotional suffering that He endured�the scourging, beating, thorns, nails, mocking, and shame. We are horrified at the cruelty of theRomans and the hard hearts of the Jewish rulers. But during the crucifixion, far more was happening than the eye could see. God was carrying out His plan to rescue mankind, providing everything we need for salvation: 1. Redemption. Jesus paid the full price of the debt we owed for transgression: death. His payment set us free from bondage to sin. 2. Forgiveness. God could now release us from the punishment we deserved. 3. Propitiation. Christ�s payment satisfied the Father by fulfilling His demand for justice while letting Him forgive us. 4. Justification. On the basis of Jesus� sacrifice, the Lord now declares believers not guilty. Although we will still sin in this earthly life, our standing before God is one of righteousness. This is a legal declaration that can neverbe reversed. 5. Reconciliation. The sin barrier that separated us from the Father was removed by Christ�s death on our behalf. We�re now God�s children�we have open access to Him and fellowship with Him. The crucifixion was the only way to rescue lost humanity. If there had been any other way, the cross would have been a grotesque display of divine cruelty. But because so much was at stake, it can truly be called the greatest act of love by both the Fatherand the Son. ----------------------- Like a Wave of the Sea �If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally But let him ask in faith,nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.� (James 1:5-6) A contrast is set up in these verses between faith and doubt. Jesus taught that �if ye have faith, and doubt [same word as �waver� in our text] not ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things,whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive� (Matthew 21:21-22). James explains that a doubter can be compared to ocean waves. Waves (in contrast to the tides that are caused by the gravitational attraction of the moon and sun) are caused by wind that imparts energy to the ocean water that scarcely attenuates until the wavecrashes onto the shoreline, perhaps many miles from its original source of energy. A wave cannot stay in one place. It surges onto the shore and recedes backward. It rises up and sinks down. It contains much froth, as well as great energy, which cannot efficientlybe harnessed for good but has the potential to cause great damage. What an elegant picture of the doubting, half-believing soul. Willingly receiving onward and upward impulses, he cannot sustain them, quickly sinking to former depths, only to rise again, in an endless cycle, until ultimately dissipating all energy on somerocky shoreline of life. �A double minded man is unstable in all his ways� (James 1:8). In much the same way, Paul urges that we �be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow upinto him in all things, which is the head, even Christ� (Ephesians 4:14-15). JDM ---------------------- The Benefits of Being Right with God - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. �Isaiah 32:17 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-benefits-of-being-right-with-god/- Listen Years ago, before I began preaching, I was a graphic designer and did an album cover that illustrated this verse from Isaiah 55: �For you shall go out with joy, and be ledout with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands� (verse 12 NKJV). That is how God leads us. He leads us with peace, and we go out with joy. It�s the result of a relationship with Him. You see, living right with God results in experiencing the peace of God. Isaiah also tells us, �The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness,quietness and assurance forever� (32:17 NKJV). At age 17, I heard what it meant to become a follower of Jesus and what Jesus could do for me. So I prayed and asked Christ to come into my life. And that day I rememberfeeling as though a massive weight had been lifted off me. I realized later that it was the weight of my sin. Everyone carries a weight like that. Now, some people have sinned more than others, but one sin is enough to keep youout of Heaven. Every one of us has sinned. Every one of us has broken God�s commandments. And every one of us has fallen short of God�s standards. That is why Jesus died on the cross. The Bible says, �The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed� (Isaiah 53:5 NKJV). God punished Jesus, if you will, in the way that you and I should have been punished. Jesus bore the weight of our sins. He was our substitution. He died in our place. Jesuscame to pay a debt He did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay. --------------------------- God Will Keep Your Way Secure By Debbie McDaniel "It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure." - 2Samuel 22:33 I was sitting outside early one morning just before dawn. Rainstorms were all around, I could hear the distant thunder and feel the strong winds. But my little place under the roof awning with a hot cup of coffee, Bible,and favorite blanket was secure, safe, undisturbed, though all around me it was stormy. God's reminder came: "You are secure in Me. You are held strong by My protection overhead though the storms of life may surround you. The winds can blow, the rains can beat down hard, the times may look dark, but My Presence surrounds and I am greater thanthe storm." ---------------------------------- The First Empty Tomb 1 Corinthians 15:35-58 Jesus is the only person who has an empty tomb. Everyone else who's died has returned to the dust, but Christ is alive and seated at the Father's right hand. Because He overcame death, His followers are also guaranteed empty tombs someday. When Jesus returnsfor His church, those who have died in Him will be resurrected into glorious bodies. And believers who are alive at that time will instantaneously be changed. Knowing this, we naturally wonder, What kind of body will I have? The best way to answer that is to see what Scripture reveals about Christ's body after He rose from the dead. He didn't come invisibly in the form of a ghost but rather had a literal,physical body. He talked, walked, and ate with His disciples. Yet although He was recognizable, He was somehow different, and at times it took His words or actions to jog their recognition. Here's one thing I can tell you about the resurrection: you will look better than you do today! God is going to give you a strong, glorious, eternal body which is perfectly fitted for your life in heaven. Believe me, you will not be disappointed, becauseGod has far more in store for us on the other side than we can ever imagine. You will be more alive there than you could ever be here. A more important issue we must face is how to get ready for that day. This life is just a puff of wind compared to our eternity. It's my personal opinion that the way we live here on earth will determine our capacity to enjoy heaven. The time to begin livingfor God is now. ------------------------------- Assembling Together �Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another:and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.� (Hebrews 10:25) This verse is often cited as an incentive to regular church attendance, but it can also relate just as well to any gathering of two or more believers in Christ�s name. The Lord Jesus said: �For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am Iin the midst of them� (Matthew 18:20). It is fascinating to note that the Greek word translated �assembling together� in this verse is used only one other time in the New Testament, and there it is translated �gathering together.� �Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,and by our gathering together unto him� (2 Thessalonians 2:1). In this verse, Paul was reminding the Thessalonians of his previous letter to them, in whichhe had written about the return of Christ and the gathering together of all believers to meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). Perhaps the writerof our text verse, since he was using the same unique terminology, was referring to the same event. That is, whenever there is an assembling together of believers, it is in a sense a little preview of that great gathering in the skies when Christ returns, as we exhort one another to �look for him� (Hebrews9:28), and so much the more, as we see the day approaching. Since our text verse does not actually mention the church by name, it seems to apply to any assembling of believers. However, there is one very significant use of �church� in Hebrews, and it refers specifically to the coming meeting in the air, where we shallall gather at �the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect� (Hebrews12:23). HMM ---------------------- Labor Pains - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. �Luke 21:28 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/labor-pains/- Listen One question people have been asking me rather frequently is whether COVID-19 is a sign of the last days. I would say the answer is yes. Now, the word pandemic is not in the Bible. That�s a modern word. We do, however, find the words pestilence and plague mentioned many timesin the pages of Scripture. In the Bible, pestilences and plagues always were a form of judgment. And Scripture does tell us that in the end times, there will be horrible diseases that will come uponthe planet. There also will be earthquakes and wars and rumors of wars. We are not in the Great Tribulation period yet, but Jesus said that as we get closer to His return, it will be like a woman in labor. As she gets closer to the time of delivery,her labor pains will become closer together. So as we see more of these big events, we can recognize them as signs of the times. He said, �Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, becauseyour redemption draws near� (Luke 21:28 NKJV). Maybe today you�re afraid of the afterlife. You�re not sure that your life is right with God. If you want God to forgive your sin, if you want to know that you�ll go toHeaven when you die, and if you want to be certain that when Christ returns, you will be ready to meet Him, then you need Jesus in your life. Simply say, �Lord Jesus, I know that I�m a sinner. I believe that You�re the Savior, and I ask You to forgive me my sin. I want to be ready for Your return. Come into mylife, Jesus. I ask it in Your name, amen.� Jesus will give you the meaning of life on Earth, and He will give you the hope of life beyond the grave. ------------------------------------ Is Doubting a Sin? by Debbie Holloway And [Jesus] said to them, �Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? (Luke 24:38) There�s no doubt about it: faith is a gift. To be more specific, faith is a gift� and not all of us are born with this gift. Many of us have been through trials and struggles that make blindfaith and unwavering belief difficult, almost impossible. Have you ever been lied to by a trusted friend? Let down by a parent? Abused by someone who was meant to care for you? Chances are, the answer is yes. Chances are, doubting God is sometimes (or often)something with which you struggle. Many of us grow up hearing the refrain from James, �the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind� (James 1:6). Many of us are told over and over again that thereis no room for doubt or skepticism in the Kingdom of God. But is that truly the message portrayed in Scripture? Should we really feel the sting of shame over asking questions and expressing hesitation? ---------------------------------------------- The Cross The Believer's Victory 1 Corinthians 1:17-31 From a worldly perspective, Christ's death signaled His defeat. After all, dying in agony on a cross hardly seems like the path to victory. But it was! And He did it all for us. Because Jesus triumphed over death, we can be victorious in life. Just considerwhat He won for us by sacrificing Himself on the cross. Our Eternal Salvation: The cross was the means of our salvation. Without it, we'd have no hope of heaven. If Christ hadn't died in our place, we'd have to stand before God and receive the just punishment for every sin we've ever committed. Power over Sin: Jesus not only paid the penalty for our sin; He also brought us present victory over it. When He was crucified, our old sinful nature died with Him (Rom.6:6). The power of the "flesh" was broken, and Jesus now lives His triumphant life through us. That means we are no longer enslaved to sin and can choose obedience to God. Defeat of Satan: At the crucifixion, the list of decrees against us was nailed to the cross, and the Devil lost his power over our lives (Col.2:13-15). None of his accusations can stick, because God holds nothing against us anymore. And now every time we yield to the Spirit within us, Satan is defeated once again. Christ met all our needs on the cross. By making us a part of His family, He gave us a sense of belonging. When He died in our place, He affirmed our value. And by coming to live His life through each believer, He gives us the ability to live a victorious,obedient life. ---------------------------- Boldness in the Holy Place �Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.� (Hebrews10:19) In the ancient tabernacle only the High Priest was allowed to enter the �holy of holies� to commune with God, and that only once a year, on the great day of atonement. This most holy place was separated from the rest by a very heavy veil. When Christ died,however, as the one final and perfect sacrifice, �the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom� (Matthew 27:51). This miraculous rending of the veil was intended by the Lord to symbolize the wonderful truth that we now have open access to come into the very presence of God, �by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, hisflesh� (Hebrews 10:20). Thus, as our text says, we no longer must go by way of priests and sacrifices to come to God. We can enter directly �into the holiestby the blood of Jesus.� Because of what Christ has done for us, we can come boldly (not arrogantly or presumptuously, however) into God�s presence in prayer. �For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points temptedlike as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need� (Hebrews4:15-16). We can also have confidence (same Greek word as for �boldness�) in witnessing for Christ. After praying for boldness, �with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all� (Acts4:33). ----------------------