(from MaxLucado.com)
Not everyone in Jesus’ world gave Him a warm welcome. Not everyone received Him with grace. And many didn’t just ignore Him, they rejected Him.
Isaiah prophesied His reception like this: “He was despised and rejected by men” (Isaiah 53:3 NIV).
John summarized the rejection of Jesus with these words: “He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him” (John 1:10-11 NIV).
How did Christ endure treatment like that? At any point He could have said, “I quit. I’ve had enough.” Why didn’t He? What kept Him from giving up?
I wonder if Lee Ielpi understands the answer? He is a retired firefighter, a New York City firefighter. He gave twenty-six years to the city. But on September 11, 2001, he gave much more. He gave his son. Jonathan Ielpi was a fireman as well. When the Twin Towers fell, he was there.
Firefighters are a loyal clan. When one perishes in the line of duty, the body is left where it is until a firefighter who knows the person can come and quite literally pick it up. Lee made the discovery of his son’s body his personal mission. He dug daily with dozens of others at the sixteen-acre graveyard. One Tuesday, December 11, three months after the disaster, his son was found. And Lee was there to carry him out.
He didn’t give up. The father didn’t quit. He refused to turn and leave. Why? Because his love for his son was greater than the pain of the search. Can’t the same be said about Christ? Why didn’t He quit? Because the love for His children was greater than the pain of the journey. He came to pull you out. Your world had collapsed. That’s why He came. You were dead, dead to sin. That’s why He came. He loves you. That’s why He came.
That’s why He endured the distance between us. “Love…endures all things.”
That’s why He endured the resistance from us. “Love…endures all things.”
That’s why He went the final step of the incarnation: “God made Him who had not sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV).
Why did Jesus do that? There is only one answer. And that answer has one word. Love. And that love of Christ “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7 NKJV).
Think about that for a moment. Drink from that for a moment. Drink deeply. Don’t just sip or nip. It’s time to gulp. It’s time to let his love cover all things in your life. All secrets. All hurts. All hours of evil, minutes of worry.
The mornings you awoke in the bed of a stranger? His love will cover that. The years you peddled prejudice and pride? His love will cover that. Every promise broken, drug taken, penny stolen. Every cross word, cuss word, and harsh word. His love covers all things.
Let it. Discover along with the psalmist. “He…loads me with love and mercy” (Psalm 103:4 NCV). Picture a giant dump truck full of love. There you are behind it. God lifts the bed until the love starts to slide. Slowly at first, then down, down, down until you are hidden, buried, covered in His love.
“Hey, where are you?” someone asks.
“In here, covered in love.”
Let His love cover all things.
Do it for His sake. To the glory of His name.
Do it for your sake. For the peace of your heart.
And do it for their sake. For the people in your life. Let His love fall on you so yours can fall on them.
Excerpted from A Love Worth Giving
W Publishing, 2002 (Available for purchase at MaxLucado.com)
February 07 2010 | Bible and Blog and Christianity and Church and Devotions/Devotionals and Faith and Family and God and Grace and Hope and Inspirational and Jesus and Life and Love and Mercy and Opinion and People and Personal and Philosophy and Quotes and Religion and Spiritual and Theology and Thoughts and Uncategorized | No Comments »
What Is Success?
The world most often defines the term as simply one’s ability to achieve personal goals. Instead, we must ask the question, What is it that would make God see me as a success? The world’s perspective fluctuates, but the Lord’s view is constant: to Him, my greatest achievement is a continuing desire to be the person He has called me to be and to reach the goals He has helped me to set. When we think of it this way, there is no doubt that God is interested in our success! Not only is He interested, but He intentionally encourages us to be triumphant. Scripture offers four proofs.
First, God plans for us to succeed. We see this in the lives of many men and women in the Bible. For example, do you remember the story of Joseph in Genesis chapters 37-50? By the world’s standards, he was doomed from the start. However, in everything Joseph did, God made him thrive. In those important chapters of Genesis, we see Joseph as a shepherd boy, then a slave, later as a prisoner, and ultimately as the prime minister of Egypt! Surely God had planned for the faithful servant’s good fortune, even during those years when all seemed hopeless.
Moses, David, Nehemiah, and Joshua all demonstrate this same kind of greater divine plan for distinction. And the apostles—they thrived in the first century and spread the good news of salvation around the world. Their mission must be considered a success, or we would have no churches or record of Jesus Christ at all. In each of these examples, people discovered what the Lord wanted them to do, committed their lives to it, followed godly principles, and achieved their goals. In the eyes of God, they were all successful!
Second, God provides for our success. The Bible contains every fundamental concept on success that I’ve ever read in any other book. Different authors may pluck an idea out of the Scriptures and write a book about it, but they didn’t create the principle.
Some authors may say success depends on faith in one’s self, while others point to belief in some “higher power.” But as followers of Jesus Christ, we can name that source of our strength: almighty God, who cares for us. You see, God alone is the author of success. Without Him, a person will ultimately know only failure—and in the meantime, perishable wealth at best.
Third, God equips us for success. He has provided what we need in order to be successful men and women. Every believer has been given certain abilities, or spiritual gifts. These are amazing endowments that enable us to do the things that God calls us to do.
The Lord has also equipped us by giving every believer the presence of His indwelling Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings us into intimate contact with the heavenly Father, empowers our daily lives, teaches us the things of God, and gives us His discernment.
In the power of the Holy Spirit, we have access to supernatural decision-making processes. You see, the Lord doesn’t set people up to fail. He would get no glory from that. Instead, He gives us what we need to be successful in what He has called us to do.
Fourth, God promises us success. You may argue, “Well, if God has promised me success, then somewhere along the way, He messed up.” No, He hasn’t. However, if we’re struggling to find any areas of accomplishment in our lives, it may be that we ourselves have gotten off course.
What did the Lord tell Joshua? He told him to be strong and courageous, to obey His Word, and to be careful to keep His commandments. And the result? “For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success” (Joshua 1:7-8). Do you see? The formula for success is right there in black and white in the pages of Scripture.
(by Dr. Charles Stanley excerpted from the February 2010 issue of In Touch magazine)
Reach your full potential!
In his newest book, Dr. Stanley outlines the essentials for living the kind of life God designed. They include having a clean heart, maintaining right relationships, using your God-given gifts wisely, and more.
February 05 2010 | Bible and Blog and Christianity and Church and Devotions/Devotionals and Faith and Family and God and Grace and Hope and Inspirational and Jesus and Life and Love and Mercy and Opinion and People and Personal and Philosophy and Quotes and Religion and Spiritual and Theology and Thoughts and Uncategorized | No Comments »
23 Jesus got into a boat, and his followers went with him.24 A great storm arose on the lake so that waves covered the boat, but Jesus was sleeping.25 His followers went to him and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We will drown!”
26 Jesus answered, “Why are you afraid? You don’t have enough faith.” Then Jesus got up and gave a command to the wind and the waves, and it became completely calm.
27 The men were amazed and said, “What kind of man is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Although the disciples had witnessed many miracles, they panicked in this storm. As experienced sailors, they knew its danger, what they did not know was that Christ could control the forces of nature.
There is always a dimension of our lives where we feel God can’t or won’t work. When we truly understand who He is, however, we will understand that He controls both the storms of nature and the storms of the troubled heart. Jesus’ power that calmed this storm can also calm the storms raging in our lives. He is willing to help if we only ask Him. We do not need to exclude Him from any area of our lives.
(from the Life Application Bible – Living Bible edition)
February 04 2010 | Bible and Blog and Christianity and Church and Devotions/Devotionals and Faith and Family and God and Grace and Hope and Inspirational and Jesus and Life and Love and Mercy and Opinion and People and Personal and Philosophy and Quotes and Religion and Spiritual and Theology and Thoughts and Uncategorized | No Comments »
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation.”
| I sat nervously in the waiting room of the hospital lab, reading a book to six-year-old Solomon and two-year-old Henry. When Henry’s name was called for his blood test, my husband Tony picked him up and disappeared behind the door. In moments Henry’s cries filled the room.Solomon and I tried to read the next page of our book. From behind the door, Henry’s screams escalated to panicked shrieks.
I reached for Solomon’s hand. “It’s okay,” I said.
“I know,” Solomon said. “Henry just doesn’t understand.”
I nodded. “You’re right,” I said. “He needs to have this done.”
“Dad is with him, right?” Solomon asked.
“Yes.”
Henry’s cries went on for what seemed like hours. Finally my husband came out with a tear-streaked Henry, who looked down at the small trinket he held in his hands.
Tony nodded that all was fine and said, “He even got to pick a toy from the treasure chest.”
In the car Solomon reached his hand over to Henry’s and held it. “It’s okay, Henry,” he said. “We love you. We were right there, Dad with you and Mom with me right outside the door.”
Henry smiled.
As I was going to bed, I thought about the day and my own struggles. So often I find myself crying over a situation that I just don’t understand, an experience that will ultimately make me better, wiser, more understanding. Just like Henry, I’m not alone; I’m always embraced with love and, yes, I’m all right.
“Father, thank You for always being there.”
|
By Sabra Ciancanelli (from Daily Guideposts – OurPrayer.org)
|
|
February 03 2010 | Bible and Blog and Christianity and Church and Devotions/Devotionals and Faith and Family and God and Grace and Hope and Inspirational and Jesus and Life and Love and Mercy and Opinion and People and Personal and Philosophy and Quotes and Religion and Spiritual and Theology and Thoughts and Uncategorized | No Comments »
(from the January 2010 issue of In Touch devotional magazine)
LETTING GO OF FEARS & DOUBTS
It’s hard to think about New Year’s resolutions when you’re worried about the nation’s faltering economy and involvement in a war. The headlines seem to offer little encouragement these days. How easy it would be to give in to cynicism and despair. Perhaps when trouble or disappointment arises, you ask yourself, How can I continue? Does anyone understand what I am facing?
God does. Our troubled times are nothing new. And people have continued to achieve great things despite the ups and downs—maybe that’s a part of the greatness. Have you ever wondered how the apostle Paul remained on the course God set for his life despite tremendous obstacles?
The Lord understood exactly what Paul was facing, and He understands the pressure of your situation. You are never alone, because your Father is committed to you. His personal knowledge of your life goes far beyond the difficulty of the moment. He knows your frustrations and plans to use each one to strengthen and prepare you for His future blessings. So be encouraged!
Paul successfully endured many challenges by keeping his heart set on Jesus Christ. When adversity came, he turned to God for wisdom and strength and refused to let doubt, fear, or disappointment distract him. Though a number of his letters were written from prison, he remained fully loyal to Christ.
The apostle’s writings reveal personal heartaches, failure, and physical agony. The pain Paul suffered went to the core of his being. In his darkest hour, his faith was stretched beyond what many of us could bear.
Yet despite continuous setbacks, Paul was convinced that God would see him through that turmoil to a greater end. This is why he wrote: “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12).
As you prepare for this next year, remember that many saints, known and unknown, have gone on before you in the strength of our heavenly Lord. And that power is available to you today if you wish to receive it.
February 01 2010 | Bible and Blog and Christianity and Church and Devotions/Devotionals and Faith and Family and God and Grace and Hope and Inspirational and Jesus and Life and Love and Mercy and Opinion and People and Personal and Philosophy and Quotes and Religion and Spiritual and Theology and Thoughts and Uncategorized | No Comments »
