Sep

04

Do you need refreshment?

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Water is a vital commodity we know and essential for life. Go more than three days without water and it’s dangerous. Water not only quenches our thirst but is also a metaphor in the Bible for life. When we are parched—not only of physical thirst but the spiritual thirst of our souls as well—a never ending spring of life flows abundantly from our Lord and can satisfy like no other.

Living water is something Jesus promised to the woman at the well when he spoke:  Those who drink of the water I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life (John 4:14).

The water of salvation that flows from the very presence of God is available in endless supply for humanity’s deepest needs.

When the poor and needy seek water,
and there is none,
and their tongue is parched with thirst,
the Lord will answer them,
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
I will open rivers on the bare heights,
and fountains in the midst of valleys;
I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
And the dry land springs of water… ~ Isaiah 41:17-18

Are you thirsty today? Even the most securely saved, blood-bought of Christians have need to be refreshed by the water. What God did for Israel, he can do for you. The Lord cares for you, and the water of salvation is yours for the asking when you have the faith to believe.

 

Aug

27

Thanks be to God always…

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When things go well for us, it’s so easy to give thanks and praise. Though when we might be chastened, or if God allows something to occur that is not of our choice, the thanking and praising may grow quiet.

God is aware of all we’re enduring. Out of love for us, he works in ways that often are beyond our comprehension. We can thank and praise him for being in control of the storms that enter our lives and for sustaining us while in their midst—no matter the outcome. Just remember that there is always a purpose in what God does. In the case of the believer, it’s all to conform each of us more into the image of Christ. It’s for our holiness.

Science bears out that giving thanks and having gratitude lends positively to our lives. As Christians, we already know this. Giving thanks is rewarding not only to the recipient but also to the giver. If there is anything that deserves our utmost thanks, appreciation, gratitude and, ultimately, our praise, it’s our blessed Lord.

Thanks and praise be to God always…

 

 

Aug

18

Holy and righteous is His name

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Try as we may, we can never become holy or righteous enough to please the God of this universe on our own. The first step is to receive Christ in spirit and in truth and then “put on” Christ as we believe and trust in his power. Therein lies our righteousness! No more no less.

No matter how holy we may appear on the outside, our own righteousness will never be enough as the word says in the O.T. that all of our righteousness is akin to filthy rags. Sadly, our goodness will never suffice in pleasing Him or pave a path for us into heaven because it’s not really about us or our works.

So many feel that they must earn their way into heaven or do some kind of work or penance to appease our holy God. Really? Is that what God’s word is saying?

According to Hebrews 11:6, it is impossible to please God without a genuine conviction that he exists. And as far as getting into heaven…Ephesians 2 tells us that it is “by his grace that we have been saved through faith…” and by which we trust Him for our salvation.

God is too great to impress with our own self-righteousness. The only way to please God is to humble ourselves by having faith in his Son, the Lord Jesus, who graciously gave up his life in order we may live.  No one can save themselves, which is good to know because Jesus did it all through his free gift of salvation by His grace alone.

Aug

12

The bride of Christ

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God, by his grace, has proven over and over how much his people—the church—mean to him. Our Lord rejoices over us. Knowing this, we should rejoice always while serving him in our lives.

In the story of Hosea and his wife, Gomer, God delivered a powerful message to the people regarding their unfaithful behavior.  As Hosea’s wife was unfaithful to her husband, returning to a life of prostitution, God felt betrayed by Israel’s infidelity as well. However, it wasn’t the end of the story. It didn’t end in divorce.

With every covenant God has made with man from Abraham through David and on down through the ages, God has remained faithful to Israel, an unfaithful people. Though man let go of his end of the relationship and left God through sin, he has always remained faithful to us.

Though man broke the relationship through sin, God found a way to restore the intimacy. That is where Jesus enters the picture. The penalty for our sins ends at the foot of the cross. The Bride of Christ is now clothed in pure whiteness without spot or blemish thanks to Jesus. We look forward to the marriage supper that, one day, will occur. Until then, like the parable of the ten virgins, be ready to meet the bridegroom as we are his bride!

The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness” ~ Lamentations 3:22-23

 

Aug

04

How great is our God?

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We are so blessed by what our Creator lends us for life on this planet every day. There really aren’t words enough to describe or measure the goodness of the Lord. He brings the sunlight, provides food for harvesting, and His word tells us that the rain, too, falls on the just as well as the unjust. His abundant blessings are new every morning. But it doesn’t end there.

Noting the rich abundance of all he supplies, it would take an eternity to count all of the blessings God bestows; most, of which, we can’t even see! The magnificent works of the Lord are above and beyond amazing.

Take in the natural beauty of the sky, the mountains, trees, flowers or an eagle and marvel at the handiwork of our Lord. If he can be concerned for such things as the tiny ant, how much more for you?

Therefore, you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears ~ 2 Samuel 7:22.

As God has given us life more abundantly, we need to make it a priority to share the good news with others.

The goodness of God is infinitely more wonderful than we will ever be able to comprehend ~

A.W. Tozer