Today's scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:20-22
Last Thursday, I wrote of God’s faithfulness. Today continues that theme. God faithfully keeps all His promises. His yes is always yes. And what does He promise us?
He promises to provide for our needs—not our wants, mind you, but our needs
(Philippians 4:19).
He promises to love us with an “everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3).
He promises to never leave us (Hebrews 13:5).
He will provide for us, care for us, heal us (Genesis 22:14; Psalm 23; Psalm 30:2).
He will be our refuge, our strength, our help (Psalm 46:1-2).
He will forgive us, cleanse us, make us righteous in His eyes (1 John 1:9).
When we commit our lives to Him by accepting the gift of salvation and eternal
live through the death, burial, and resurrection of God the Son, Jesus Christ,
we become sons and daughters of God the Father. And just like any other loving
father, our Heavenly Father always keeps His promises.
Always.
Today's scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:20-22
Last Thursday, I wrote of God’s faithfulness. Today continues that theme. God faithfully keeps all His promises. His yes is always yes. And what does He promise us?
He promises to provide for our needs—not our wants, mind you, but our needs
(Philippians 4:19).
He promises to love us with an “everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3).
He promises to never leave us (Hebrews 13:5).
He will provide for us, care for us, heal us (Genesis 22:14; Psalm 23; Psalm 30:2).
He will be our refuge, our strength, our help (Psalm 46:1-2).
He will forgive us, cleanse us, make us righteous in His eyes (1 John 1:9).
When we commit our lives to Him by accepting the gift of salvation and eternal
live through the death, burial, and resurrection of God the Son, Jesus Christ,
we become sons and daughters of God the Father. And just like any other loving
father, our Heavenly Father always keeps His promises.
Always.
Today's scripture: Psalm 27:1-3
I love, love, LOVE today's verses! We even talked about them in church on
Sunday ...
We live in a really scary world. So much death and violence. So much sickness
and pain. So many people doing so many awful things to so many others ...
If I didn't know that the God of the universe is real and in control, I would
just crawl into a hole and ... well, you know ...
But I do know that the God of the Bible created this world. I do know He was in
control then and is in control now. I do know that He is the ultimate victor in
this fight against evil.
So, I don't have to worry. I don't have to fear.
These verses don't say I don't need to fear because nothing bad will happen.
The psalmist still had enemies. No, I don't need to fear because, even if bad
does happen, God is "my light and my salvation."
Man can hurt me, torture me, persecute me ... kill me. But I don't have to fear
any of this because God, the "strength of my life," will help me
through whatever comes my way.
And if man's efforts take my life? I know I'll be with my Savior. Forever.
So, really, why should I fear?
Today's scripture: Psalm 103:17-18
Our God is a covenant God.
This may not seem like much, but that’s only if you don’t really understand
covenant. Covenant by definition "is of Latin origin (con venire),
meaning a coming together. It presupposes two or more parties who come together
to make a contract, agreeing on promises, stipulations, privileges, and
responsibilities ... [While covenants between man are bilateral], God
initiated, determined the elements, and confirmed his covenant with humanity.
It is unilateral. Persons are recipients, not contributors; they are not
expected to offer elements to the bond; they are called to accept it as
offered, to keep it as demanded, and to receive the results that God, by oath,
assures will not be withheld" (www.biblestudytools.com, emphasis mine).
So why is this important for us as believers? Because God, the God of the
universe, initiates covenant. He chooses to be in relationship with us. He chooses to commit to us whether
or not commit to Him. That is so significant.
God made covenant with Abraham, Noah, Moses … and with us. Covenant from the
Old Testament was a promise of salvation and redemption. Abraham would be the
father of an entire people—the chosen people of God. Noah and his family were
the only people saved when God covered the earth with a flood. God "cut covenant"
with Noah and promised to never destroy the world in the same way. Moses led
God’s chosen people to the land promised to them.
We, however, are blessed with an even greater covenant: We are redeemed through
the shedding of Jesus Christ’s blood. God “cut covenant” with us through that
blood, and we are saved. We are in relationship with Him.
It’s not about us and what we can do. It’s about Him and what He has already
done.
Today's scripture: Ephesians 1:13-14
I'm not exactly certain
what happened, but I got a bit ahead of myself yesterday and focused on a few
verses out of chronological order. I guess I needed what should have been
today's verses yesterday ... and what should have been yesterday's verses today.
The verses we're looking at today do speak to my heart ... today.
Do you ever feel lonely?
I sometimes do. With my family spread throughout the U.S., with my friends busy
with their own lives, with my spending so much time working from home …
sometimes, I feel quite alone.
But then I remember, I’m never really
alone. Never. I’m God’s beloved daughter, “sealed … with the Holy Spirit of
promise …”
My trusty commentary says:
… the Holy Spirit, which is
promised to them who believe on Christ Jesus, was given to you, and thus you
were ascertained to be the children of God, for God has no child who is
not a partaker of the Holy Ghost, and he who has this Spirit has God's seal
that he belongs to the heavenly family. (The Adam Clarke Commentary)
I am part of God’s family, and the Holy Spirit is within me.
Thank You, Lord God, for the reminder that I’m
never alone. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for living in me.
