Come, Lord Jesus.

Some folks think there won't be a day when our Lord comes back. They think that because everything seems to go on the same way in the world day after day, year after year, life will just continue this way without change. Second Peter 3:3-12 has some news for them.

Christ hasn't yet returned because 1) God has determined the exact day the earth ends and is the only One who knows it; 2) God loves us all dearly and is patiently waiting on us to turn to Him; and 3) slowness in our eyes is not slowness to God, whom Time does not restrict: a thousand years are as a single day to Him. After all, He made Time in the first place.

Let's thank God for His love and deep patience, holding out the Word of Life to others to speed along Christ's coming (v. 12)!

Nothing new.

“The earth also was corrupt before God and the earth was filled with violence.” This could describe modern times, couldn’t it? But Gen. 6:11 is describing mankind’s earliest days!

King Solomon once said, “there is nothing new under the sun.” As Yahweh our creator does not change, I’m betting His heart is still incredibly grieved by all He sees. That’s why I’m so glad He had a plan to save us despite our evil inclinations, a plan He set before even making man.

I’m glad I have the Great Redeemer!

No Respcter of Persons.

This week, five rich people died when their touring submersible imploded at the bottom of the ocean, and 300 poor people died when the  fishing trawler they were using to escape poverty capsized in the sea. Humans seemed more riveted to the fate of the rich people; they made a bigger deal of it in their media.

But Proverbs 22:2, Acts 10:34, and other scriptures teach us that whether humans are rich or poor, the God who created humans loves every soul alike. Regardless of how much money or social status He has given us, God desires that all people seek to know Him and love Him (Jer. 9:34), and He gives us opportunities to do so. He has also given each person a specific expiration date. He knows exactly when, where, and how we'll die and whether we were walking in the Way to Life when we did (John 14:6).

Let's pray that at the moment our soul is called, we know Him and are holding His hand.

Only one thing is needful.

Life can get pretty hectic can't it? We can get so busy taking care of all the things, or enjoying all the experiences, that we miss out on the one most important thing we can do in life, ever. Doing this one thing gives everything else meaning and purpose. Jesus said it's the only thing that is needed for our lives (Luke 10:42). The only thing.

Are you sitting right now at the feet of Jesus? Are you learning with a submissive, childlike heart from the One who saved you? If not, let the words of preacher Charles Spurgeon instruct and bless you: https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/the-one-thing-needful/#flipbook/ .

He makes it peaceful.

Proverbs 16:7 and Isaiah 54:17  teach us that although the children of God have enemies, we will avoid heated conflict with those enemies, based on God's actions on our behalf. Now that is some powerful protection!

The Proverbs passage reserves this protection for those whose "ways please the Lord." Let's keep ourselves under God's protective umbrella by living to please Him. May we be at peace with our enemies.

No, Not One.

You and I are capable of scoffing at living the kind of life God wants. It's in our DNA (Gen. 6.5-6; Luke 18:19)). Absolutely none of us are immune from sinning in our day-to-day actions and thoughts (lest we think we're above it, see Rom. 3:10-12,23). Unless God's Holy Spirit dwells within us, we're not capable of righteousness as God would define it (1 Cor. 2:14).

So, let's listen to the Holy Spirit's promptings to our consciences about what is good, stay vigilant against devilish temptations to sin, and welcome the Sword of the Spirit, God's holy Word, to penetrate our hearts and cut away evil from them. We need His work on us every day to think and do what is right. At least, I know I do.😉

Because of who HE is.

I've just read a very fine article by the Sonrise Community Church on the latter half of 2 Samuel 7. The article examines David's appreciation for what God had done in anointing David king over Israel. We get a good glimpse of David's awed humility and his desire that God use him to glorify His name. My favorite part of the article was this excerpt:

"No one can believe simultaneously they’re the coolest thing since sliced bread and praise God for being great. Why do we know and sing of God’s grace as amazing? Because we also know God ‘saved a wretch like me.’ Lesson? Anyone who thinks they deserve such grace, shows how far away from such grace they truly are."

Why do blessings and favor come our way? Because God is good. That's the only reason. Let's make sure others know not only that we've received His amazing grace, but why. And while we're doing that, let's also heap loads of praise for such blessings onto Him, where it is due. His peace.

Find the article at https://sonrisecc.com/2019/10/16/morning-2-samuel-718-29-davids-prayer-of-gratitude/

Treasured possessions.

Have you ever considered just how precious and valuable you are in our Father's eyes? If you read the parables of the Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price in Matthew 13: 44-45, you'll discover it.

You are that Treasure found in a field that God bought at a price equaling all He held dearest to Him, namely, the Life of His only Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16). Conversely, like the merchant looking for and selling everything he owns to possess that costly Pearl, we must give up all that's dearest to us to possess membership in the family of God, the kingdom of heaven (Luke 9:23-25).

What aren't you willing to sell to be with God? Reputation? Money? Status? Time? Friends? Family? Pleasures? Sinful desires? Your very life? Oh, friend, let's deny it all, count it all as loss (Phil. 3:8-10) to buy our heavenly kingdom place, where we'll bask in the Light of God's Love forever. We won't ever regret it, not by any stretch of the imagination! Remember, Christ is looking forward to it too (Heb. 12:2). And He doesn't ask us to make any sacrifices He hasn't already made.

It's worth giving up everything to know Him.

Speaker of the House.

Joshua 24:15 paints a powerful image of one man's stance to faithfully serve Yahweh against an entire nation of people who preferred to ignore the one true God who saved them, worshipping idols instead. Anyone living at Joshua's home base was going to serve Yahweh too. He spoke for his house.

As He gave the Israelites, so God gives us choice today as to whether we will serve Him. But a Day is coming soon when He will call humankind to the home He prepared for them, replacing our earlier, earthly home. Will the Speaker of the House receive those who've preferred to ignore Him?

Living the Luke 6:38 Life.

Have you ever been literally overwhelmed by Yahweh's favor? I have, and it is the most wonderful experience this side of heaven. He blesses us every day of our lives, of course, but on some days, He decides to pour the whole bucket on top of our heads! (Malachi 3:10-11). Our cups run over. Our hearts are full.

As Luke 6:38 shows us, God likes giving to givers, especially generous ones. So don't hold back on giving love and acceptance, but do hold back on unforgiveness and harsh judgment of others. Give your time, money, and energy to God cheerfully and genuinely, because He deserves it and He loves you. Pour yourself out in praise to God and service to Him as you follow His example and commands through the Word, the sword of the Spirit. (That's what we were made to do, anyway.) You'll see: You can't outdo God in giving.

Do you hear what I hear?

Have you ever had a friend or family member casually predict something, perhaps suggesting some new invention or behavior of people, and their words eventually came true? I have, and I don't believe their prediction was mere coincidence.

God reveals truth about things to come to us through His Holy Spirit, according to John 16:13 AKJV: "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."

While the Spirit has already spoken the truth about our final destinations and end times through the apostles' teachings (2 Peter 1:21), He continues to reveal truths about day-to-day life, in subtle and overt ways, to humans today. It's what He was sent to do, after all.

Is the Spirit uncovering some aspect of truth about your life that you need to hear? It only benefits us to prayerfully heed what He is telling us. So, let's tune in and keep in step with the Spirit.

Be anxious for nothing.

What is troubling your thoughts right now? Guess what? You have Someone at your right hand Who not only wants to lift that burden from your mind, but Who can fix whatever’s causing the distress! He knows the final outcome of it, anyway.

Let Matthew Henry's words on Philippians 4 encourage you: "Here is a caution against disquieting perplexing care (Philippians 4:6): Be careful for nothing--meden merimnate: the same expression with that Matthew 6:25, Take no thought for your life that is, avoid anxious care and distracting thought in the wants and difficulties of life. Observe, It is the duty and interest of Christians to live without care. There is a care of diligence which is our duty, and consists in a wise forecast and due concern but there is a care of diffidence and distrust which is our sin and folly, and which only perplexes and distracts the mind. 'Be careful for nothing, so as by your care to distrust God, and unfit yourselves for his service.

Be concerned, yes, but keep casting your concerns to God so they don’t consume your thoughts. May you find joy today.

Judgment or mercy?

Meditate today on James 2:13, Rom. 3:23, and Luke 23:34. Sometimes, when we see a person sin in ways we wouldn't, or hurt others more than we would, we can feel the person deserves God's judgment more than His mercy. When we see that person later become hurt himself, we can feel he or she is getting just desserts.

Now, what if that person were you? Would you desire judgment or mercy from God? Would you want full justice to be measured on you, or clemency? Guess what? You are that person. So am I. But because of His rich mercy showered on us through the death of Jesus the Messiah, God will not give us our just desserts. Jesus took the full measure of justice for sin for you and me.

May we remember this the next time we're tempted to feel condemningly judgmental of other sinners instead of sorrowful about their sin and prayerful for their deliverance from self-destruction. We're more like Christ when we choose the latter option. I'm so glad mercy triumphs over judgment!

Come, oh City of Light.

I love sunshine. There’s just something about the light a sunny day gives off that makes my spirit happy. Here’s a lighted environment most of us don’t think a lot about, but one that will eventually make us all excited! You’ll find it in Revelation 21:23 and 22:5. This City needs no natural or artificial lighting sources; it gets eternal light from the Glory of God shining by way of a lamp called the Lamb of God.

No more dark, ever? Now THAT stokes this sunbaby's fire! 😉