Category Archives: Devotional

God’s Unfailing Love

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I read this verse today and thought it encouraging and timely for some of the things “afflicting” our family at the moment. Last Sunday morning we talked about the call to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised in faithful” (Heb. 10:23). These verses reflect so clearly the spirit of one who “holds” to Him who is faithful. Listen to the Psalmist’s devotion to God. Hear his determination to trust the Lord, to trust is His intentions, and refuse to turn from the One who has made him.

Your hands made me and formed me;
give me understanding to learn your commands.
May those who fear you rejoice when they see me,
for I have put my hope in your word.
I know, O Lord, that your laws are righteous,
and in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
May your unfailing love be my comfort,
according to your promises to your servant.
Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.
(Psalm 119:73-77)

The Psalmist’s resolve is to obey. His resolve is to hold unswervingly despite his affliction — accepting his affliction as coming from God!

By faith, when everything is going all wrong, we can trust that everything is actually going all right! From our Wednesday reading: “God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything” (1 John 3:20). Nothing happens outside the view and will of our God. Your affliction may be just what God prescribed. We know his will is for us to to be faithful and to grow in that faith. Putting all these thoughts together we can better understand that…

“God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

The first thing to surface in our trials is our weakness. Perhaps that’s what God wants us to see, to let us know what he is working on in us. Our job is to let him. Our job is to rely on his strength to overcome our weakness.

When one dies, we may be called to bury some feelings of hurt from other family members with forgiveness. When the unexpected happens and plans and dreams are altered, it may be time to seek God’s path for us instead of our own. When the very foundations upon which we have built our sense of security crumble right underneath of us, maybe it’s time to rebuild on the Rock of God and His eternal promises.

At least two things are always certain when nothing else is: God is always with you, and he is working to draw you into deeper faith. He promises, “Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you” (Heb. 13:5).

May God’s unfailing love be your comfort according to the promises he has made to us through Jesus Christ our Lord. May his compassion come to you, and may you remain obedient. Hold unswervingly, for the One who has promised is faithful!

Uniqueness in Christ

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“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1) “Children born not of natural decent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God,” is what John writes in his gospel (John 1:13).

Do you get a sense of just how special you are in Christ? And there is so much more! Hoping in Jesus – hoping and longing for all that he has promised for you, now and for the future – purifies you. The question is: “How?” How does hope purify? Here are some strong statements from the first ten verses of 1 John 3:

1. “No one who lives in him keeps on sinning.”
2. “No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.”
3. “Anyone who does not do what is right is not born of God; nor anyone who does not love his brother.”
4. “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”

The victory is assured! Sin has been conquered! These are comforting thoughts – that God has provided the means for you to be purified.

Blessings!

A New Morning

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The ground is moist with the fresh wash of rain yesterday delivered. It’s a new morning this morning, and I sense that God waits. He waits to see how we will spend this 24 hours. He has positioned the sun. He has cleansed the earth. And all is prepared for us to wake. We need only wake; wake to his presence, wake to righteousness, wake to his judgment and his salvation, wake to his unfailing love. We need only wake to him to know the fullness of this day.

Yesterday’s sin can be dealt with today. Yesterdays hurt can be comforted. Like the wash of rain, his well spring can bring cleansing and renewal. We need only wake…..to him.

“Father, turn our hearts and our eyes to you today. Show us your glory. Wash us with your righteousness. Have mercy on us Lord and allow the blood of your son to cleanse us once again as you have ordained. Lord, protect us from the evil one and deliver us from the evil of our own selfish desires. For you alone are God, and you are our Lord. Make us new.”

A Life of Faith vs. A Good Christian Life

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We have a children’s book that teaches the concept of “good, better, and best.” It uses the story of Mary and Martha and how each responded to Jesus when he came to visit. You’ll remember that Martha got all caught up in doing good things around the house, cleaning and preparing a meal and being a good hostess, while Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to him. Jesus, of course, tells Martha that Mary chose best.

“The greatest enemy of the life of faith in God is not sin, but good choices which are not quite good enough.” Oswald Chambers

Chambers’ words are convicting. Here is an example to help digest his meaning: which is easier, to give someone a few bucks for a meal or to take them to eat and become their friend? Which is better? Which is best? One takes good intention, the other takes me. One gives me the pleasure of giving while maintaining control, the other costs me time and surrenders much of my control because I don’t what’s going to happen. One takes goodness and generosity, the other sacrifice and faith.

Doing good is absolutely good. It’s what Jesus went about doing (Acts 10:38). But a life of faith demands letting God call the shots. It means allowing Him to lead us into the deeper waters of service and dependence that are out over our heads, where we feel quite out of control. According to Chambers, this is best. Perhaps Paul would agree, “For we live by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7).”

So what choices are you making that demand faith? It seems there is a difference between “a good Christian life” and “a life of faith in God.”