Verse of the Day: Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.—Proverbs 25:28
Memory of the Month: Psalm 33:4
4 For the word of the Lord is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.
Today's reading: EZEKIEL 3-4 HEBREWS 11:20-40
The Faithful
Hebrews 11 reminds of the faithful in old Testament times and of how their faith sustained them. One writer asked the question:
"Did one of them ever express regret that he had given up the world; or that he had obeyed the Lord too early, too faithfully, or too long?" The answer is N0.
We might feel a little shame when we consider our own sacrifices in comparison. But this is really not the point but if you do feel the shame, take it to the Lord and move on.
All those faithful have gone on to their reward in heaven and are free for eternity. They enjoy, now, the ultimate in peace and joy-bliss-in the presence of our great God.
Bliss is normal in Heaven...
Whatever we give up here-whatever all the faithful have given up long ago-it is all forgotten. There is no regret in Heaven. 'Bliss' includes the opposite of regret and guilt and pain.
This is our encouragement. The presence of the Lord in our lives is our peace. This day's new mercies from God's own heart are upon us.
Grasp the strength as you walk in the world but not 'of' the world. Live the difference that faith in Christ brings! That is the challenge-to live by faith and not by sight and it takes some of us a lifetime. Faithfulness is consistency to God. Consistent in truth. Consistent in focus. Consistency in the face of the enemy's opposition. Consistency in the knowing that God is merciful...in knowing His love encompasses us all the time.
Paul wrote to the Romans from Corinth on one of his journeys:
38 "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."(Romans 8)
Then, some four years later. Paul wrote to the Philippians from prison in Rome:
"I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances." (Philippians 11)
Paul was not content when Jesus knocked him off his horse and blinded him; his contentment had to be learned. But it was learned because Paul was 'convinced'(Romans 8:38) that no matter what happened, he was secure eternally in God's love.
Are you convinced? If you are in Christ, you have been recreated in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit convinced you to give your heart to Christ and you were saved. But He does not stop there. His mercies are new every morning and He never leaves us. All that is left for us to do is do all that the Holy Spirit leads us to do as we learn to be content in all circumstances. So, when someone asks you how you are doing just, pray that God gives you an answer something like this:
"I am learning to be content in all things because I am convinced that nothing can separate me from God's Love."
Tell the Lord you will obey and learn.
...because He loves us...
Our Father in Heaven,
Increase my faith and continue changing my way of thinking. Teach me to quit complaining and learn to be content. Forgive me for feeling sorry for myself.
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