Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
God’s purpose in everything working together for your good is not to make you continually happy or wealthy. “All things” include the good and the bad. God’s purpose to “them who are the called”---to “them that love God”-- is to make you more like Jesus---to shape you to His image.
Be assured that God can take your life with all its ups and downs, blend it with His grace, add a heaping portion of His love and transform it into a thing of great beauty.
Sometimes He washes your eyes out with tears to steer you to His purpose. You may not understand it or like it, but it’s those times you trust Him, you lean on Him. Romans 8:28 is to teach us that God has an eternal plan for those who love Him and that nothing will change that plan.
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Friday, October 9, 2015
Follow Me
Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
My, how we need some brave believers in this day---people who are willing to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Jesus.
When you “throw down your life” to follow Jesus, you’re not gambling your life away in a game of chance. No! Our God is a Sovereign God. He’ll take your sacrifice of love and service and bless it for His glory and your eternal good. He’ll give you treasure in Heaven.
Many years ago Ira F. Stanphill wrote a beautiful song about following Jesus.
My, how we need some brave believers in this day---people who are willing to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Jesus.
When you “throw down your life” to follow Jesus, you’re not gambling your life away in a game of chance. No! Our God is a Sovereign God. He’ll take your sacrifice of love and service and bless it for His glory and your eternal good. He’ll give you treasure in Heaven.
Many years ago Ira F. Stanphill wrote a beautiful song about following Jesus.
Oh Jesus if I die upon a foreign field someday,
'Twould be no more than love demands, no less could I repay,
"No greater love hath mortal man than for a friend to die"
These are the words He gently spoke to me,
"If just a cup of water I place within your hand
Then just a cup of water is all that I demand.
But if by death to living they can Thy glory see,
I'll take my cross and follow close to Thee.
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
After being rejected, hated, mocked, imprisoned, and ignored---After seeing his beloved Jerusalem ransacked, desecrated and destroyed---After experiencing the horror of war, the brutality of the enemy and the pangs of hunger; the Prophet Jeremiah stands in the rubble of the city layered with dead bodies. He lifts his voice in praise to God for His great, unfailing faithfulness to His people.
Lamentations 3:21-23 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Jeremiah survived. God was faithful. He never changes. He was faithful in the beginning and He’ll be faithful in the end. He was faithful in the lives of the Bible characters who placed their faith in Him, and He’ll be faithful in the life of every believer who will trust Him today.
As we face the storms, trials, and valleys of life, we can be sure that God will prove His faithfulness time and again. Great is Thy faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:21-23 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Jeremiah survived. God was faithful. He never changes. He was faithful in the beginning and He’ll be faithful in the end. He was faithful in the lives of the Bible characters who placed their faith in Him, and He’ll be faithful in the life of every believer who will trust Him today.
As we face the storms, trials, and valleys of life, we can be sure that God will prove His faithfulness time and again. Great is Thy faithfulness.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
The Name Of Jesus
In today’s world many want nothing to do with Jesus Christ. They deny His deity even though He has a name above every name.
Either in this life by salvation or in the one to come in judgment, every knee will bow and confess that Jesus is the Christ and Lord of all.
Phil.2:9-11 – Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but there’s something about that name. --- Bill and Gloria Gaither.
Either in this life by salvation or in the one to come in judgment, every knee will bow and confess that Jesus is the Christ and Lord of all.
Phil.2:9-11 – Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but there’s something about that name. --- Bill and Gloria Gaither.
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Prayers
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
It’s prayer that brings us into the awesome presence of God. It’s the God Who answers prayer that changes circumstance and touches lives. It’s prayer that marks the difference between mediocrity and greatness in the Christian life.
It’s not the arithmetic of our prayers, how many they are---nor the rhetoric of our prayers, how eloquent they may be---nor the geometry of our prayers, how long they be---nor the logic of our prayers, how argumentative they may be---nor the method of our prayers, how orderly they may be. it’s fervency of spirit which avails much.
God desires absolute faith that He’ll do as He has said He will do. Faith is the key that opens the vast storehouses of God's provision and pours them out on a humanity that will simply believe in God. Faith is indispensable to answered prayer.
It’s prayer that brings us into the awesome presence of God. It’s the God Who answers prayer that changes circumstance and touches lives. It’s prayer that marks the difference between mediocrity and greatness in the Christian life.
It’s not the arithmetic of our prayers, how many they are---nor the rhetoric of our prayers, how eloquent they may be---nor the geometry of our prayers, how long they be---nor the logic of our prayers, how argumentative they may be---nor the method of our prayers, how orderly they may be. it’s fervency of spirit which avails much.
God desires absolute faith that He’ll do as He has said He will do. Faith is the key that opens the vast storehouses of God's provision and pours them out on a humanity that will simply believe in God. Faith is indispensable to answered prayer.
Monday, October 5, 2015
Compassion
Matthew 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
How could Jesus care about so many different people with so many different problems? Think about who He is. He’s God in the flesh. He’s not selfish or self-centered. He transcends all the faults and flaws that mark humanity.
A man fell into a pit and couldn't get out. A Christian Scientist came along and said, "You only think you’re in a pit." A Pharisee said, "Only bad people fall into a pit."
A compassion-less Fundamentalist said, "You deserve your pit." A Charismatic said, "Just confess that you're not in a pit." A Methodist came by and said, "We brought you some food and clothing while you're in the pit."
A Presbyterian said, "This was no accident, you know." An Optimist said, "Things could be worse." A pessimist said, "Things will get worse."
Jesus, seeing the man, took him by the hand and lifted him out of the pit. That’s the essence of the compassion of Christ. We need that kind of compassion.
How could Jesus care about so many different people with so many different problems? Think about who He is. He’s God in the flesh. He’s not selfish or self-centered. He transcends all the faults and flaws that mark humanity.
A man fell into a pit and couldn't get out. A Christian Scientist came along and said, "You only think you’re in a pit." A Pharisee said, "Only bad people fall into a pit."
A compassion-less Fundamentalist said, "You deserve your pit." A Charismatic said, "Just confess that you're not in a pit." A Methodist came by and said, "We brought you some food and clothing while you're in the pit."
A Presbyterian said, "This was no accident, you know." An Optimist said, "Things could be worse." A pessimist said, "Things will get worse."
Jesus, seeing the man, took him by the hand and lifted him out of the pit. That’s the essence of the compassion of Christ. We need that kind of compassion.
Sunday, October 4, 2015
My Sheep Know My Voice
Psalm 23:1-6 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. . . . . .
Sheep have a reputation for being stupid. They’re defenseless and require a shepherd to care and protect them. When the Lord called His people sheep, it may be less than flattering, but it's right on target.
Since we---His sheep---are so needy, we form a special, intimate bond with our Heavenly Shepherd. He knows the ones who are prone to wander. He knows the weaker ones. He knows the loyal ones too. He even knows them all by name, and they know his sound and smell.
John 10:27-28 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Sheep have a reputation for being stupid. They’re defenseless and require a shepherd to care and protect them. When the Lord called His people sheep, it may be less than flattering, but it's right on target.
Since we---His sheep---are so needy, we form a special, intimate bond with our Heavenly Shepherd. He knows the ones who are prone to wander. He knows the weaker ones. He knows the loyal ones too. He even knows them all by name, and they know his sound and smell.
John 10:27-28 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
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