Showing posts with label Devotional. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Devotional. Show all posts

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Complete

Bread

Jesus is the Redeemer
You are rescued!
Jesus is the Bread of Life
You are fed!
Jesus is the Light of the World
You are guided!
Jesus is the Door of the sheep
You are accepted!
Jesus is the Good Shepherd
You are cared for!
Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life
You are filled with hope!
Jesus is the Mighty God - You are safe!
Jesus is the Way - You are secure!
Jesus is the Life - You are whole!
Jesus is the Truth - You are certain!
Jesus is the True Vine - You have everything you need!

You are complete in Him. Colossians 2:10 NKJV

**Devotional by Roy Lessin, from his blog Meet Me In The Meadow

 

John 11:25 (KJV)

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live...

Blessings,

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Be Pointed, Persistent and Patient by Ruth Bell Graham

The center of power, it has been said, is not found in summit meetings or in peace conferences. It is found when children of God pray for God's will to be done in their lives, in their homes and in the world around them.
We cannot pray and remain the same. We cannot pray and have our homes remain the same. We cannot pray and have the world around us remain the same. God has decreed to act in response to prayer. He commands us to ask. And Satan trembles for fear we will.
"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:11-12, NIV).

Thursday, December 30, 2010

God's Rescue Plan by John Munro

"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[a] because he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).

What is Christ's greatest accomplishment? It was not His miracles or His insightful teaching or His example of love. The greatest achievement of the God of Christmas is salvation. Sin is a powerful force in our lives and holds us in captivity. The Bible describes our spiritual struggles and failures in various ways. For example, we are trapped as it were in a sea of mud. The more we struggle to get out, the deeper we sink. We are in a dark pit whose walls are so high that we can't possibly climb out. We are so terribly ill there is no cure. We are in a prison with no hope of being released. We are lost and don't know where to go. This is where the mission of Christmas brilliantly shines.

Jesus is a great example, but His example is too high for any of us to keep, left to ourselves. He is a great teacher, but truth by itself can't save us. If you are drowning, you don't need someone to shout instructions from the shore. You don't need a lecture on swimming. You need someone to come into the water and save you. God's Son, Jesus, comes to us in our captivity, in our terrible and hopeless dilemma, and rescues us. His death on the cross demonstrates His great love for us in saving us from our sins and paying the price for our deliverance and forgiveness. Jesus is God's deliverer—this is God's rescue strategy—He sends Jesus to Earth to save us and to bring us to Heaven. This is the God of all grace, reaching down, down, down to you in the mission of Christmas.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Good Tidings by John Munro

"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people'" (Luke 2:10, NIV).

Some people think they are doomed to live a life of sadness, despair, despondency, fear and hopelessness. They live in fear of others, of failure, of what others think; fear of the future. This year may have been a year of deep disappointments and sadness for you, but great joy is offered to you this Christmas. God wants you to have great joy.

The message from the Savior is of Good News. It comes to all people. This includes you and me. Take this very personally. God is speaking to you this Christmas. He is telling you, "Fear not." Joy is knowing no fear. God is offering you salvation through Jesus, the Savior. Knowing Jesus as your personal Savior will bring you great joy, which nothing or no one in this world can take away. Do you now understand why Jesus Christ came to Earth? Do you understand that salvation, joy, forgiveness of sins and eternal life come from the God of Christmas? Do you realize that in order to be right with God you must trust in Jesus Christ personally and receive forgiveness and salvation?

Monday, December 20, 2010

The Christmas Story … Part 2 (Conclusion) By Jack Kelley


James Jacques-Joseph Tissot, "Journey of the Magi"
 


“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel … (Numbers 24:17)

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.

“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: ” ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’”Matt. 2:1-6)

The Magi were Parthian Priests, descendants of the priesthood the Prophet Daniel had organized in Persia some 500 years earlier, upon learning the timing of Messiah’s coming (Daniel 9:25).  Knowing the time was at hand, these priests had been searching the heavens for the promised sign of His coming, a new star in the Eastern sky.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Handel's Messiah

 REMBRANDT Harmenszoon van Rijn
Adoration of the Shepherds
1646

Comfort Ye
Isaiah 40: 1 - 3
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God
Every Valley Shall be Exalted
Isaiah 40:4
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill
shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain.
And the Glory of the Lord
Isaiah 40: 5
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. 
Thus saith the Lord
Haggai 2: 6,7
For thus saith the Lord of Hosts; Yet once, it is a little while and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of Hosts.
Malachi 3: 1
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts.
But who may abide the Day of His Coming?
Malachi 3: 2
But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: 
And He shall Purify
Malachi 3: 3
And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. 
Behold, a Virgin shall Conceive
Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion
Isaiah 40: 9
O thou that bringest good tidings to Zion, get thee up upon the high mountain; O thou that bringest good tidings to Jerusalem,
lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah,
Behold your God!
Isaiah 60: 1
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth
Isaiah 60: 2,3
For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people:
but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to Thy light, and kings to the brightness of Thy rising.
The people that walked in darkness
Isaiah 9: 2
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
For unto Us a Child is born
Isaiah 9: 6
For unto Us a Child is born, unto Us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
There were shepherds abiding in the field
Luke 2: 8
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. 
And , lo, the Angel of the Lord came
Luke 2: 9
And, lo. the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 
And the Angel said unto them
Luke 2: 10,11
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And suddenly there was with the Angel
Luke 2: 13
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God
Luke 2: 14
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion
Zechariah 9: 9,10
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.
Then shall the eyes of the blind
Isaiah 35: 5,6
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd
Isaiah 40: 11
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Matthew 11: 28, 29
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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.
His yoke is easy
Matthew 11: 30
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Behold the lamb of God
John 1: 29
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
He was despised
Isaiah 53: 3
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isaiah 50: 6
I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
Surely He hath borne our griefs
Isaiah 53: 4,5
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

And with His stripes we are healed
Isaiah 53: 5
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 
All we like sheep have gone astray
Isaiah 53: 6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
All they that see him laugh him to scorn
Psalm 22: 7
All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
He trusted in God
Psalm 22: 8
He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
Thy rebuke has broken His heart
Psalm 69: 20
Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
Behold, and see if there be any sorrow
Lamentations 1: 12
Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.
He was cut off out of the land of the living
Isaiah 53: 8
He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell
Psalm 16: 10
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates
Psalm 24: 7 - 10
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory.
Unto which of the angels said He at any time
Hebrews 1: 5
For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
Let all the angels of God worship Him
Hebrews 1: 6
And again, when He bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, He saith, "And let all the angels of God worship Him."
Thou art gone up on high
Psalm 68: 18
Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive: Thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.
The Lord gave the word
Psalm 68: 11
The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
How beautiful are the feet
Romans 10: 15
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Their sound is gone out
Romans 10: 18
But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Why do the nations so furiously rage together?
Psalm 2: 1,2
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His anointed, (saying,)
Let us break their bonds assunder
Psalm 2: 3
Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
He that dwelleth in heaven
Psalm 2: 4
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision
Thou shalt break them
Psalm 2: 99.
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel
Hallelujah
Revelation 19: 6
And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Revelation 11: 15
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.
Revelation 19: 16
And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS.
I know that my redeemer liveth
Job 19: 25, 26
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.
1Corinthians 15: 20
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
Since by man came death
1Corinthians 15: 21, 22
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Behold I tell you a mystery
1Corinthians 15: 51, 52
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shallall be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
The trumpet shall sound
1Corinthians 15: 52 - 54
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptable must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Then shall be brought to pass
1Corinthians 15: 54
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death where is thy sting?
1Corinthians 15: 55 ,56
O death, where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
But Thanks be to God
I Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
If God be for us
Romans 8: 31, 33, 34
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Worthy is the Lamb
Revelation 5: 12, 13
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
Amen

Handel's Messiah "Hallelujah Chorus" by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir


Saturday, December 18, 2010

The Christmas Story … Part 1 by Jack Kelley


Adoration of the Shepherds by
Gerrit van Honthorst, 1622
 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Fear Not by Billy Graham

Christmas was just the beginning. Ahead was the cross, and beyond the cross was the empty tomb.

Christ has come to take away the source of our fears. Fears are real. Christ does not tell us that we should simply cheer up and they'll all go away. It's right to fear death if we do not know Christ. It is right to fear loneliness or the problems that seem to overwhelm us, because those things are very real. But so is Christ, and when we realize that He has dealt with sin and made it possible for us to be reconciled to God, then we do not need to be paralyzed by fear any longer. Instead, we should do what the shepherds did: come to Christ. Come to Him with our sins and cast them at His feet, then we can know Silent Night, Holy Night. Then we can know what the Bible calls the peace of God which passeth all understanding.

Jesus promised, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).

Christmas tells us what it cost God to save the world: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son" (John 3:16). Christ is God's great Christmas gift to the world. The Scripture says, "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15).

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Good News for Today by Franklin Graham

At the Savior's birth, an angel of the Lord appeared in the darkened Bethlehem countryside, startling shepherds with this now-familiar pronouncement: "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people" (Luke 2:10).

.... For centuries, God's redemptive plan had been focused on the Hebrew people. He revealed Himself to the Israelites through His prophets, signs, wonders and the Scriptures. At the same time, prophets had foretold the birth of a Messiah who would deliver and rescue all mankind. (See Isaiah 42:6 and 49:6.)

At last, that day had come in the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God who became the Son of Man that He might bear the penalty and guilt of every man, Jew and Gentile. When we hear the Christmas story, we should be reminded that multitudes around the world have never had an opportunity to hear those good tidings of great joy.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Meditating on God by Jerry White

The Apostle Paul concludes his letter to believers in Philippi saying: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things" (Philippians 4:8).
Our minds and imaginations run constantly. They never stop. Meditation then is a learned skill to focus and concentrate on reading, studying and reflecting on Scripture. In Philippians, Paul exhorts us to force our mind to deliberately fix its attention on God—and His works, world and Word. He instructs us to meditate on certain attributes of God and aspects of His creation.
Meditation is not a cloistered life in a monastery or the adoption of a life of reflection and silence (as good as that may be). It is learning to think of God in the busyness of real life. This does not come naturally. Much of this is found in being "transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2).

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

The Root of Thanksgiving by Skip Heitzig


 
   
What exactly should Christians be thankful for? Many of us, including me, would say things like family, country, homes, health and jobs. That's a great start. But let me suggest something deeper and more profound: our salvation.

In Colossians 1:3 Paul wrote, "We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you." Paul was in jail when he wrote that! But he was so in tune with God that his circumstances didn't rob him of joy and thanksgiving. Paul inherently knew that there was a deeper reason to be thankful: God had rescued him from spiritual darkness, out of a spiritual prison. God continued to do great things for him, even in the midst of trials.

Paul wrote, "Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light" (Colossians 1:12). The word qualified means "to make meet" or "to make able." The idea is that God has enabled us to have something. Put simply, God has given us the privilege of a relationship with Him by forgiving us of our sins and providing a means to turn from the darkness and toward the light.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

I Will Praise You In The Storm

A couple of weeks ago my pastor was teaching through Psalm 34, and as he was teaching I started to think about David’s words…

1 I will extol the LORD at all times;
       his praise will always be on my lips.
 2 My soul will boast in the LORD;
       let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
 3 Glorify the LORD with me;
       let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
       he delivered me from all my fears.
 5 Those who look to him are radiant;
       their faces are never covered with shame.
 6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
       he saved him out of all his troubles.
 7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
       and he delivers them.

I began to think about the storms that have come and gone in my life, and how God brought me and my family through. We have faced the death of friends and family, difficult pregnancies, tough financial situations, including job loss, giving up our home to foreclosure, and bankruptcy. Through each of these situations I’ve been drawn closer to God. I’ve learned to praise Him in the storms of life, but I’m not perfect in this, I still catch myself worrying when I should be trusting Him, and complaining instead of praising Him. But as David continues to write…

8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
       blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
 9 Fear the LORD, you his saints,
       for those who fear him lack nothing.
 10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
       but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
 11 Come, my children, listen to me;
       I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
 12 Whoever of you loves life
       and desires to see many good days,
 13 keep your tongue from evil
       and your lips from speaking lies.
 14 Turn from evil and do good;
       seek peace and pursue it.
 15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous
       and his ears are attentive to their cry;
 16 the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
       to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
 17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
       he delivers them from all their troubles.
 18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
       and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
 19 A righteous man may have many troubles,
       but the LORD delivers him from them all;
 20 he protects all his bones,
       not one of them will be broken.
 21 Evil will slay the wicked;
       the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
 22 The LORD redeems his servants;
       no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.


All of us have been through one storm or another. Whether it is the loss of a loved one, illness, broken marriage, divorce, job loss, financial trouble, foreclosure, bankruptcy, persecution; God is there with us during our storms, and He will see us through. I know because He has been with my family and me as we have weathered the storms that have come into our life; and He will be there for you.

I have learned to Praise him during the storms in my life, and so can you. So continue to praise Him, Praise the one from whom all blessings flow. Praise the one who created you. Praise the one who saw the storm coming and is ready and waiting to bring you through.




Thursday, October 28, 2010

It's Done! by Greg Laurie

Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3, NKJV). Only Jesus Christ "and no other" died on the cross for your sins. Only He promises you the hope of Heaven. Jesus essentially said the only way you can be certain your sins are forgiven and to know you will spend eternity in Heaven is by putting your complete trust in Him. And there will be tangible results to show you have done that.
Don't misunderstand me, I am not suggesting that X amount of good works makes you a Christian. Far from it. In fact, all the good works on Earth will not save you. The Bible says, "He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5, NLT).
This, in fact, is one of the main things that sets apart Christianity from all other world religions. All other religious systems essentially say: "Do this and you will have good karma, or you will get to Heaven, or paradise, or nirvana." In contrast, Jesus Christ says, "Done!" That's what it meant when He cried out on the cross, saying, "It is finished." The transaction is complete. The price has been paid.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Seeing the Unseen by Jill Briscoe

Elisha's servant got up early one morning and went outside. He looked around and got a very nasty shock. The Aramean army surrounded them! Terrified, he raced into the house to blurt out the bad news to Elisha. But Elisha reassured him and prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see" (2 Kings 6:17, NIV). Suddenly the servant saw horses and fantastic chariots of fire that made the iron ones the Arameans were sitting in look a bit silly. They covered the hills around the city.
... What does it mean to see the unseen? Most of us will never see the fiery chariots with our physical eyes, but we can learn to see them with the eyes of true faith, as Elisha and his servant did. Write out and memorize 2 Kings 6:16 as a reminder that the soldiers of the Lord's army will garrison our hearts and minds with the peace of God. According to Philippians 4:7, as surely as those fiery chariots garrisoned the house of Elisha and his servant, so will God's soldiers of peace "police" our thoughts and refuse to let anyone through to terrorize us!