Showing posts with label faithfulness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faithfulness. Show all posts

FAITHFUL UNTIL THE END

At seventy-five Grandma Faith learned that cancer would soon take her home to heaven. She had been a faith-filled Christian all of her life. Realizing that her time with her family on this earth would soon be over, she called all of them together. After they gathered around her bed, she said in a calm, steady and joyful voice, “For many years I’ve shown you how to live like a Christian. Now I want to show you how to die like one!”

Life after death was important to Paul. He planned for it, prepared for it and personally looked forward to the time when he would be with his Lord. From the day he met his Savior, his values changed, and his view of things on earth changed. Not only did he see life from an eternal perspective but the only thing he wanted others to do was to see life the way he did: through the eyes of the risen Christ.

His faith enabled him to confidently say that dying would be even better than living. He knew that only those who were ready to die could face life confidently and fearlessly. He realized that in death he would be removed from the problems and pains of this world and be with his beloved Savior for evermore.

Reading his words in Philippians is a testimony that he wanted others to see life in his death. With passion he said, “For me, living is living for Christ and dying is even better.”

Prayer:  We look to You, Heavenly Father, for faith for today, hope for tomorrow and purpose in between. Fill us with love for You and the lost whose lives are in our hands. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today:       For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. Philippians 1:20-26

Faithful Hearts And Right Living

Throughout Scripture the "heart" is used as the center of a person’s being. It describes the heart as the personality or inner life or character of a person 257 times. It states that the heart is the center of a person’s emotional state or consciousness 166 times. It presents the heart as the source of intellectual activities 204 times and this includes what we pay attention to or reflect on during our quiet moments or what makes sense to us as we consider the things that cross our paths or what enters our minds. It also speaks of the heart as the source that gives us purpose or direction in life 195 times.
We must never overlook the importance of "the heart."
Certainly the author of Psalm 78 had this in mind. As he reflected on the trials and tragedies of the Israelites, he called attention to the fact that the preceding generations did not put their trust in God and forgot the gracious gifts He gave them. He encouraged them to obey God's laws and not be like their forefathers.
And how were they to do this? What was his "prescription" for them? They were to have "hearts that were loyal to God and spirits that were faithful to Him."
Wisely, this psalmist gave a warning to his listeners. And, thankfully, God passed it on to us in His Word.
Someone once said to me, "Larry, learn from what sin has done in the lives of others. If you do, you will be blessed of God and able to enjoy the best He has to offer."
Surely this is the right moment for each of us to look deep within our "hearts" and be sure that God is in the very center and that we are loyal to God!
Prayer: We are grateful, Father, for the warnings Your Word gives us. May we follow Your guidance each day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture for Today: Psalm 78:8 Then they will not be like their ancestors— stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God. 

Faithful Until The End

At seventy-five Grandma Faith learned that cancer would soon take her home to heaven. She had been a faith-filled Christian all of her life. Realizing that her time with her family on this earth would soon be over, she called all of them together. After they gathered around her bed she said in a calm, steady and joyful voice, “For many years I’ve shown you how to live like a Christian. Now I want to show you how to die like one!”
Life after life was important to Paul. He planned for it, prepared for it and personally looked forward to the time when he would be with his Lord. From the day he met his Savior, his values changed and his view of things on earth was different. Not only did he see life from an eternal perspective but the only thing he wanted others to do was to see life the way he did: through the eyes of the risen Christ.
His faith enabled him to confidently say that dying would be even better than living. He knew that only those who were ready to die could face life confidently and fearlessly. He realized that in death he would be removed from the problems and pains of this life and finally be with his beloved Savior for evermore.
Reading his words in Philippians is a testimony to his faith: he wanted others to see what he looked and longed for after his earthly life: “For me, living is living for Christ and dying is even better.”
Prayer: We look to You, Heavenly Father, for faith for today, hope for tomorrow and purpose in between. Fill us with love for You and the lost whose lives are in our hands. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture for Today: Philippians 1:20-26 – For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.