2020-02-21
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Amazement is my reaction to the many concepts our Lord teaches us in the Scriptures, as the Holy Spirit guides me through these messages. Just the act of supplying supporting Scriptures to the little 4-chapter book of Colossians is a wonderful way to reveal all those underlying messages having to do with our relationships with God and other people. When we think we know all there is to learn about Him, He has more to teach us. Above all, He wants us to learn to trust Him, as He knows the limits of human perception. IS 55: 8-9, “’My thoughts,’ says the Lord, ‘are not like yours, and My ways are different from yours. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are My ways and thoughts above yours.’” These are the words of our One and only God, Who is not limited by the laws of the physical universe or relativity. PR 3: 5-7, “Trust in the Lord wholeheartedly and never rely on what you think you know. Remember God in all you do, and He will show you the right way. We are commanded to turn to God first, if we want things to work out. Relying on Him is best.” Let me share a very recent experience.
I lead a group of ladies, who knit and crochet items for people in need of them. Several of us went to visit a friend in this group who is seriously ill. We hadn’t seen her since before last year’s holidays. The Holy Spirit led me to read a short devotion from a book called Jesus is Calling. It was about our need to place our troubles and victories with the Lord Jesus. We all should know there are times when we can’t just simply solve our trials without His help. Our hostess expressed her frustration that she can’t arise and return to coming to our meetings or live the life she previously had. I realized she needed to hear this same devotion about placing our burdens with the Lord Jesus that I had read earlier to the others. My friend needed to hear His words through the apostles Paul and Peter. RO 8: 28, “We know that in all things God works for good with those who love Him, those He calls according to His purpose.” 1 PET 5: 7, “Leave all your worries with Him, because He cares for you.” PS 37: 3-6, “Trust in the Lord an do good; live in the land and be safe. Seek your happiness in the Lord, and He will give you what your heart desires. Give yourself to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will help you. He will make your righteousness shine like the noonday sun.”
It’s always easier to write about the finiteness of our physical lives then it is to endure such a test of one’s own faith. But God cements friendships for many reasons, particularly to offer support when faith is being tested. Healing has more than one form. PS 71: 3, “O Lord, be my Rock and Refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for You are my Rock and my Fortress.” DT 33: 27, “God has always been your Defense; His eternal arms are your support. He drove out your enemies as you advanced and told you to destroy them all.” Faith in the Lord empowers us to fend off disbelief-the greatest enemy of all time. Even my friend, who is facing the conclusion of her physical life, can trust in this principle. The idea here is that the physical death of a true believer is not the end of God’s love for this person or the human spirit. Our efforts to obey God’s teaching aren’t futile, not by a long shot! Physical death is a time of transition from earthly life to the eternal one that God has prepared for a believer. When the time for our personal glorification comes, our call home will be peacefully surrounded by the loving family God has forged, and our eventual arrival in heaven will begin the most wonderful reunion with righteous ancestors and other loved ones who arrive before us. Moreover, we can look forward to the tremendous blessing of fellowship with our Lord, from Whom we received this eternal life by the sacrifice of His Son on the cross.
PRAYER: O Lord, it is Your perfect timing and ways that have led us to the life we have now and the eternal one we can anticipate. You are the Center of our lives, the greatest Teacher we could ever have. You make inner peace and true, lasting happiness possible. The adversary has been beaten down and pushed aside in a true believer, the person who places his trust in You. It is through Christ’s Atonement that we can anticipate a heavenly and eternal life. Yes, our faith will be tested from time to time, but passing that test is within our ability, because of the strength and wisdom You make available to us. Earlier, I wrote about the limitations of human perception. PHIL 4: 6-7, “Do not worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking Him with a thankful heart. And God’s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Jesus Christ.” The story about His footsteps in the sand is true. When the going gets too tough for us to handle, we can turn to Him and yield up our griefs. He may even pick us up and carry us until we can walk again. RO 8: 38-39, “For I am certain that nothing can separate us from His love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither present nor future, neither the world above nor the world below—there is nothing in all creation that will separate us from the love of God, which is ours through Christ Jesus, our Lord.” Your loving presence in the lives of all who believe in Him lends them warmth, confidence, and strength to overcome the work of the evil one. We thank and praise You, Lord, for granting us the powerful, two-way communication of prayer. You love is unparalleled! We offer this prayer in the holy/ mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: Our Lord loves it when we acknowledge our own experiences with Him. We are imperfect and often helpless alone, but when we place our troubles and victories with Him, He delights in the faith we have, and He strengthens it. He wants to hear from us, no matter what is on our mind. Obviously, He wants us to be open, honest, honorable, and reverent toward Him. He tries every day to get us in the habit of being “God-watchers,” people who pay attention to the many blessings He brings to our lives. He wants us to feed on the spiritual food that He gives us in His word (the Scriptures). If we follow His teaching in our relationships with Him and with other people, He can use us as instruments in His work. I’ve always called the weekly messages I write “devotions.” That’s because they are expressions of the reverent love and devotion, I have for Him. His word is His love letter to us. That devotion has changed the way I feel about others, what I do with the days of my earthly life, and especially, the love I have for Him. As we age in earthly years, He expects us to mature in every way. When one reaches the point when he is called a senior, God expects us to share the Gospel message with accuracy to those willing to listen, and He wants us to leave a legacy that benefits others. We can each hope and pray that we do this in a way that pleases Him. He deserves our thanks and praise for all He is and all He does!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2020. All Rights Reserved.
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