Devotional

37. Friends

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After listening to a message by Mr. Alan Davidson last night, I thought I would share a few of his thoughts on Abraham, the friend of God (Isaiah 41:8).

– Marks of a true friend:

  • closeness (sharing secrets)
  • comes alongside in need
  • dependable
  • knowledge of each other
  • does what is best for the other

– “Waiting time is not wasted time” …this applies to not only waiting for God’s call, but also waiting for God’s choice of a husband or wife.

– Abraham was a man of faith:

  • He went out, not knowing WHERE
  • He was promised a seed, not knowing HOW
  • He offered his son, not knowing WHY

– God said he would possess much, and he spent the rest of his life giving things up. He only owned the plot of land where he buried Sarah when he died. Friendship is costly; but at the same time, he looked for a city which “hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God”. His inheritance was far greater than what could be found on earth.

– Down here we have the tears without the reason; in glory we will have the reason without the tears.

– Christ said, “Why hast Thou forsaken Me?” when upon the cross. Pilate said, “Why, what evil hath He done?” to a crowd of people clammering for His crucifixion. (Yet in the end, Pilate choose rather to be seen as the friend of Caesar than the friend of Christ.) There was no reason for Calvary, in relation to what Christ had done; but it was because of what WE had done (or would do) that He was there. It had to be Him. He alone could take away our sin.

– Christ told His disciples, “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you” (John 15:15). We have been brought into a place of nearness to Him. As such, it is our responsibility to do His will (John 15:14).

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John was the friend of the bridegroom (John 3:29), but those who are Christ’s are nearer than he (Matthew 11:11). We are sons of God, are heirs with Christ, and are His bride (Ephesians 5:25,30-32; 1Cor. 6:16-17; Rom. 7:4; Rev. 21:9). What a friend He is to us!

36. Held in His Hand

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“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” Proverbs 27:1

It has been said, “I do not know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.”

In days that are uncertain, it is good to know that a preeminent, wise, controlling hand is active in the past, present, and future circumstances of our world. The same hand that stretched out the heavens and that directs the forces of nature is the hand that is able to direct the hearts of men and the circumstances of our life. That hand may allow sin to lift up its ugly head; it may allow Satan to do his dreadful work; it may allow sorrow into the lives of His people; yet we know that all these things work together to ultimately result in the fulfillment of God’s master plan.

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“If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” Psalm 139:9-10

Those who know God have a guiding and protecting hand with them wherever they may be.  (See also Ps. 18:35; 73:23; Isaiah 41:13; 42:6; John 10:28-29)

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“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no manis able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” John 10:28-29

The children of God have the blessed assurance and security of the preserving hand of the Father and the Son.

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“Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.” Psalm 145:16

Our God is the great Provider. When we are in need, we have a providing hand that takes care of His own.

35. Beautiful

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Dear fellow Christian sowing the seed of the Word of the gospel, did you know that you are beautiful to God?

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation…” (Isaiah 52:7)

God delights to see His Son uplifted and glorified, published to those we come in contact with. Those who glorify His Son are beautiful to Him.

Dear sister in Christ, modest and meek, and regardless of your outward form, did you know that you are beautiful to your heavenly Bridegroom?

“but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.” (1 Peter 3:4 ESV)

Is not Jesus our Lord beautiful? Yet we remember the words of Isaiah the prophet:

“For He grew up before Him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him.” (Isaiah 53:2 ESV)

Yet a day is coming when our “eyes will behold the king in His beauty” (Isaiah 33:17 ESV) and we shall look upon the altogether lovely One. He is lovely to us because He loved us and became so low to bring us to Himself. He is lovely, not because of how He looks, but because of who He is and what He has done for us.

May we value the beauty of the eternal over the temporal, the crown of glory over the withering flower of earth (Isaiah 28:5). May our eyes be upon our risen Christ today, as we meditate upon the beauty of His grace, His glory, and His love to ransomed souls such as we!

I challenge my heart today with the words of the Psalmist:
“Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee.” (Psalm 73:25)

34. Your thoughts “of Christ”

a writer Sharing Christ Devotional, Your thoughts 3 Comments
May I be filled with the
Love of Christ…Ephesians 3:19
Peace of Christ…Colossians 3:15
Word of Christ…Colossians 3:16
Mind of Christ…1Corinthians 2:16
Glory of Christ…2Corinthians 8:23
Meekness and gentleness of Christ…2Corinthians 10:1
Power of Christ…2Corinthians 12:9
Work of Christ…Philippians 2:30
Fulness of Christ…Ephesians 3:19

What comes to mind? when you consider the…

Gospel of Christ
Cross of Christ
Ministers of Christ
Grace of Christ
Blood of Christ
Riches of Christ
Gift of Christ
Body of Christ
Afflictions of Christ
Reproach of Christ
Sufferings of Christ
Name of Christ
Doctrine of Christ
Priests of Christ

33. The Glory of God

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A brother in Christ shared the following thoughts with me. I enjoyed them and would like to pass them along to you.

God is infinitely great, in every category of quality and ability that would engender or express glory.  In stark contrast to us, it is impossible for anyone to exaggerate God’s love, His kindness, His wisdom, His power, His majesty….   It is impossible for God to “boast” unsuitably; how easily we can overstate our qualifications, wisdom, nobility etc.! …As the self-existent Eternal, He is uncreated, uncaused, underived from anyone or anything else…. Every ability, capacity, quality that renders us useful, attractive, admired has been bestowed, dispensed to us by God…  It is simple REALITY that all glory actually belongs to God.

There is a principle that I think holds true in connecting us to God; what is for His glory, is for our blessing.  We find our fulfillment, meaning, purpose in life as we glorify God.   There are actually two aspects of what it means to glorify God; first of all by our response to what He is, in obedience & service, trust, and appreciation; secondly, by manifesting some aspect of His character and life, in our relationships to others…  I believe the beauty of Christ’s submission and humility fulfills both aspects of glorifying God: “I am meek and lowly in heart.”  It is touching to realize that the One Who upholds the universe is meek and lowly; it could only be manifested fully in entering His own creation and serving our needs fully, then actually sacrificing His own life to redeem ours back to God.  But that is the true nature of the Eternal God!  Christ in manhood is the true expression of the moral nature of God…  The Father’s delight is to honour the Son (John 5:22-24; Phil.2:11). There is no competitiveness, or rivalry. Love is linked with glory– this is highlighted in John 17, especially from about v.22-26, where once again we see that the Father’s delight is to “give glory” to the Son, and incredibly, to embrace us as well in that desire — the Son likewise delights to confer upon us the same glory the Father conferred upon Him… The real secret is that He is LOVE and longs to share all that is possible to be shared with us; but that cannot change or erase the reality that He is FIRST, the true Source and Goal of all things – only when He is given His true place does everything work properly…  What I am suggesting is that it is only when He is being glorified, that we can be blessed and life can operate as it should – so His glory is fundamental to reality, and essential to true life for all of creation.

He conferred tremendous glory on a creature called Lucifer, and that beauty and power was subverted to exalt himself in rivalry to God – that is the genesis of all sin and all false worship.  I think we could say that God’s protection of His glory is a good jealousy, that must be maintained, or at least finally reclaimed.  That is why pride is the sin most directly against God.  “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” is not because He is also proud and takes a spiteful rivalry, but rather because He is Himself humble, and cannot support or honour inflated self-glorying.

Relating love again with glory, that is another key aspect of Biblical love – our God is a jealous God.  His love does place demands upon us – His is a love that gives all, and demands all; like the love of marriage.   In fact, love never nullifies the honour or authority of another person; rather it respects it fully – again paralleled in the human marriage relationship. Therefore, when we love God as we are called to do, we will instinctively seek to glorify Him — that is, respect and respond to Him as He is.

– B. Rodgers

32. Fear not

a writer Sharing Christ Devotional, Song/Poem 0 Comment

Of late I have been noticing references to fear connected with the sea in the Scriptures. We can learn lessons from these passages, and find encouragement in the Scriptures.

Acts 27:24 – In the midst of a storm on a ship headed for Rome, Paul is told by an angel that his prayer is heard: he need not fear. And though previously Paul had perceived that lives would be lost, God regarded his prayer and saved alive those with him in the ship as well. May we pray in our storm!

Matthew 14:26 – The disciples saw the Lord Jesus walking to them over the water of a stormy sea and were afraid, thinking He was a spirit. But the Lord’s reassuring voice came to them, “It is I. Be not afraid.” His voice was enough to give Peter the courage to walk out on the storm to meet his Lord. The Lord’s presence is all we need through the storm! Our fears have no substance if He is with us.

Jonah 1:4 – Jonah finds himself in a storm after disobeying God, and brought fear into the lives of those who were with him.  Jonah told them the sea would be calm if they threw him overboard.  God’s storms are for a reason. May we be pliable in God’s hand, willing to confess our faults, and open to His correction and guidance.

The Psalmist speaks of God as our refuge in the storms of life. We need not be afraid when the Creator of all things is our Protector! Yea, even if the enemy appears to prevail, we know that He is still in control of the sea.
Psa 46:1  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psa 46:2  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Psa 46:3  Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
Psa 46:10  Be still, and know that I am God

The life of our Lord tells us of how He dispelled fear:
-At the Lord’s coming, the angels proclaimed “fear not” (Luke 2:10).
-While the Lord was on earth, He spoke peace to a number of individuals, including Simon Peter the fisherman.
-As the Lord entered Jerusalem, the words of the prophet were being fulfilled: “fear not… thy King cometh” John 12:15.
-At the Lord’s resurrection, the angels again spoke words of assurance. (Matt. 28:5)
-The Lord Jesus appeared to his own who were assembled in fear and greeted them with “Peace be unto you” (John 20).

Yet to be our refuge, the Lord Jesus had to endure the storm for us. He could cry with the Psalmist while on Calvary’s tree:

“Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.” (Ps. 69:1-2)

His sweat and tears like rain fell from his face as He prayed earnestly in the garden. Blood and water flowed from His side as He endured the thundering wrath of Almighty God upon the cruel tree. The waves and billows rolled over His suffering soul, and He sunk all the way into death and the grave. How great was the cost for our peace! “The chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

How grateful ought we to be for this Captain of our Salvation, who went into death for us! “Ye that fear [reverence] the LORD, praise him!” (Psalm 22:23)

What has the Lord said to His own?
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

And what shall we say then?
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)

Am I sorrowful? He is the God of ALL comfort (2 Cor 1:3)
Am I inadequate? We always have ALL sufficiency in ALL things in Him (2 Cor 9:8)
Am I unable? He is “able to do exceeding abundantly above ALL that we ask or think” (Eph 3:20)
Am I uncertain? “We know that ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ” (Rom 8:28)
Am I discontented? “…ALL things are yours” (1Cor. 3:21)
Am I lonely? “I am with you ALWAY” (Matthew 28:20)
Do I sin? “…having forgiven you ALL trespasses;” (Col 2:13); “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from ALL sin.” (1John 1:7)

Surely those things that we lack, which matter, are found in our risen Head. He is the Altogether Lovely one in whom all fulness dwells. As our heart is taken up with Him, the beauty of His person will be all our desire, and His beauty will rise from our hearts as a sweet savour to our heavenly Father. Then as our hands are filled with Christ, His love will be perfected in us. “Perfect love casteth out fear.” (1 John 4:18)

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Calm in the Storm
(Rejoice – the Wilds Music)

When your life seems like a tempest, when the waves beat on your breast,
when the wind is hurling ’round you and there is no place to rest,
Then you look out through the shadows and you see Him looking too,
saying “Hush” – not to the storm, but saying “Hush” now to you…

When your life seems overwhelming, when your nights seem hard and long,
When the burdens seem unending and the enemy a throng,
Through the Word the Savior’s saying firmly, calling tenderly,
“Peace be still” – not to the storm, but “Peace be still” now to you…

Hasten now, O weary pilgrim, don’t you fear, and don’t you doubt.
Would you trust your gracious Savior though your life seems tossed about?
Oh, remain within the tempest, seeing Jesus in the way.
May the trial to you be precious as you trust Him and obey…

Trust the One who’s walking on the water.
Trust the One who’s leading through the storm.
When you cannot see the shoreline, when there is no goal in sight,
Would you focus on the certainty that all will be alright?
Trust in Him who made the tempest.
Trust in Him though tossed and torn.
Trust the One who walks on water, in your storm.

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28. Where is He?

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Where is He?
In lowly manger;
Born a king
Without a bed.
-Matthew 2:2

Where is He?
To men a stranger
God’s will doing;
Nowhere to lay His head.
-John 9:12, Matthew 8:20

Where is He?
They come in anger.
Then offering,
His blood He shed.
-John 18:7, Hebrews 10:14

Where is He?
In grave no longer.
Weep not, sing!
Risen from the dead!
-Matthew 28:5-6, John 20:15

Where is He?
In hearts of wonder.
We praises bring,
And crown His head
Who for us bled
And reigns on high,
No more to die.
Our Lord the King!
-Ephesians 3:17, 1Timothy 6:15