Thursday, January 21, 2016

A New Birth

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“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1: 3-5 (NIV) 

               Peter writes these words to God’s chosen people, scattered throughout the world. He gives praise to the Lord. He then reminds his readers of the marvelous works God did for them because of his unmerited love-love they did not deserve. My family recently received gifts that we had no idea we would ever receive. This deed has humbled me. I believe it was only through God’s intervention that we received them.

               God protects us through our faith until He chooses to come again. He keeps what He has stored up for us guarding that which He deems to be ours from perishing, spoiling, or fading.


               There will come a day when all things will be revealed to those who remain true to Him. I want to be one of those to whom God reveals all those wonderful, miraculous, and special things about His realm. I know I have to remain close to God.

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

A New Way

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“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10: 19-22 (NIV)

               The writer of Hebrews speaks great truths in this passage. 
              
1.      We have confidence that we are worthy to enter the very presence of God because of Jesus’ shed blood. God gave us that hope.

2.      Jesus caused the curtain that separates the Holy of Holies (the part of the temple where God meets with the priest) to be torn from top to bottom so we can have access to God whenever we need Him.

3.  Because we have a great priest (in Jesus,) we can draw near to God and tell Him what’s bothering us in detail. God assures us He will listen and act on our requests.

4.  God is the only one who can hear our concerns and issues without judging us. He is the one who can perfectly remedy any condition that causes us anxiety.


God Alone

  Jesus and the children at our church's prayer walk.          I will both lie down in peace and sleep;  For You alone, O LORD make ...