Devo - Scripture - Romans 8:28

THE LORD OF COMFORT

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” - John 14:1-3 ^NIV

            Let’s think about what was going on around them when Jesus said this to his disciples. Judas was in the midst of his betrayal of him and Peter’s rejection of even knowing him was predicted. Dark times for our band of believers, yet Jesus brings comfort in the face of such things.

            They are told not to let their hearts be weighed down by the circumstances that were unfolding before them. Jesus knew what would take place and because of this was able to bring a spirit of calmness to the situation.  The Lord will go to heaven and prepare a place specifically for them, then at a time known only to God, he will return and escort them to their new home where they will stay with him forever.

            This message isn’t for the disciples alone but for every person who has accepted Christ as Savior of their lives. We have nothing to fear, but at times the situation we find ourselves in becomes too real for us and we are unable to focus on the Lord. It is then that the Holy Spirit, who resides within us, rises up and brings aid to us in the form of peace and serenity. We need to ask for him to take over our feelings and emotions at that time. There are times in your life when we literally cry out the name of Jesus in the face of fearful circumstances. He hears, he knows and he will minister exactly what is needed to carry you thru whatever you are going thru. Be patient and know he is there in your midst. He will never allow you to go thru more than he knows you can handle. Rest in the knowledge that Christ is with you at all times and knows what you are going thru. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resources:  http://www.biblegateway.com; The Life Application Study Bible.

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

“Praise the Lord, my soul and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” – Psalm 103:2-5 ^NIV

            David proclaims the great blessings God gives to us all in this Psalm. If you ever feel you have nothing to be thankful for, turn to the 103^rd Psalm. The most important thing that God does for us is forgive our sins. What if he chose to give us what we deserved? Scripture tells us in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory”.

            The way God set up his sacrificial system there had to be a payment made to account for a person’s sins and that payment had to be made in blood. In the Old Testament the payment was via animal sacrifices. The new covenant God presented in the New Testament was that his own Son would pay off our sin debt with his own blood once for all time.

            Our lives have been redeemed from the pit of hell. Mortal men have a hard time grasping the seriousness of their own sin. It separates them from Almighty God, but his plan bridges the gap sin caused and erases for all time that sin. As a bonus, he never brings it up to us again. As a matter of fact, “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” ^{Psalm 103:12 NIV} Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resources: https://www.biblegateway.com; The Life Application Study Bible.

God became one of us ...

NO MIDDLE GROUND

Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.” – Luke 2:34-35 ^{New Living Translation}

            Simeon was a “righteous and devout” man in Jerusalem who was “eagerly” awaiting the arrival of the Messiah. He knew Old Testament prophesy regarding the coming “Anointed One” of Israel. God’s promise to his people was to send a redeemer. Little did the people of Israel realize that the coming Messiah would not redeem them from the oppression they were under, but the sin that weighed them down.

            The coming of Jesus left no middle ground for mortal men. They would either joyfully embrace him as Savior or totally reject him. It is no different today. Not comprehending who he was, the Jews rejection of their Messiah opened the door for all gentiles, or non-Jews, to receive him. In receiving him we have realized full pardon for all sin and a second chance to live according to the statutes of God.

            The Lord knows our hearts and also knows that this life comes with immense challenges to our faith. Our faith must be the anchor that holds us when the gales of life hit us full force. God doesn’t ever change, but our circumstances change daily. We must allow our faith and trust in Almighty God to carry us thru to the very end where we shall hear those blessed words, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” ^{Matthew 25:23 NKJV} Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: https://www.biblegateway.com; The Life Application Study Bible.

Jesus Is THE Savior

“The Savior … has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” - Luke 2:11 ^{New Living Translation}

                  In this glorious announcement notice that ‘a’ Savior hasn’t been born, but ‘the’ Savior, just as it was prophesied in the Old Testament by the Prophet Isaiah. The Jews were looking for a Messiah to overturn Roman oppression. Some Jews sought one who would heal their ailments and diseases, but Jesus provided so much more than what they sought.

            Sin was the root problem common to all men. Who could possibly eradicate all sin with a single word? The Son of Almighty God could and that is precisely why he came to earth. Not to conquer an oppressive government, not to heal sickness, but to forgive man’s biggest problem and thus allow a reconnect between God and man.

            God didn’t come to give us power or riches or glory. He came to forgive us and set us on the path to righteous living. He wishes to teach us to be humble, patient and forgiving as he is with us. Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. He is THE Savior of all mankind. He readily forgives all sin but we have to ask for forgiveness. It isn’t this blanket of redemption that drops from heaven and cleanses all mankind. There is a request that must be made and an acceptance of the gift of new life. Man must then make a conscious effort to allow the Holy Spirit to make the necessary alterations in us so we begin to resemble Christ in our behavior. Don’t be a Christian in name alone, be a true representative of all that God stands for. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

Christ Came to Bring Peace

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’” – Luke 2:13-14 ^NIV

                  What an awesome display that must have been. These simple men were privileged to see this heavenly spectacle as the angels glorified Almighty God. How would one react in such a situation? Awestruck silence would be my guess. What a privilege to be a part of that historic, life altering event.

            The result of Christ’s coming was peace for those who fall under God’s umbrella of grace. That’s what God’s favor is, his grace. The peace we receive is a peace that only Christ can give. If God is at peace with us, then all peace flows from it: a peace of conscience and mind; a peace of heart and a peace of spirit and soul. Our entire being is at peace. We can be content with our choices when we have sought the mind of God in making them.

            Christmas is a time of rejoicing, but it is also, as Sir Winston Churchill once said, “a time for reflection”. Take the time to think long and hard about your life. Have you allowed the Lord to influence your way of thinking as you seek guidance for your day? Christ came to save us from our sinful lifestyle. What changes have you made to that lifestyle that lines up with the will of God for you? Hard questions, but necessary ones for if you live only for yourself and/or your families, you will miss the greatest blessings that God has waiting for you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resources:  An Exposition of the Gospel of Luke by Charles R Erdman; Barnes Notes and Matthew Henry’s Commentary of the Bible.