WRONG WREATH

            A local businessman was excited to open his new office. A friend, wanting to celebrate with him, sent a beautiful floral arrangement. When the businessman walked in on his first day, he was shocked to see a large wreath with the words “Rest in Peace” prominently displayed. Upset and angry, he immediately called the florist, demanding to know who had played such a cruel joke. The florist quickly realized the mistake and apologized. “Unfortunately,” he added, “there is a man buried in the cemetery who has a wreath on his grave that reads ‘Good luck in your new location.’” 

The Apostle Paul knew what it was like to be in the “wrong” place many times - locked in prison, caught in storms at sea, beaten, and stoned. Yet he never wasted time complaining about his circumstances. Instead, he learned a deep secret: “I have learned to be content wherever I am.” He was convinced that he was exactly where God wanted him to be, and that God Himself was with him in every situation.  One day, when our work on earth is finished, we have the same confident hope Paul had. We will leave these earthly bodies and step into the worthwhile new home God has prepared for us.

 

Prayer: Lord, we are grateful that You will never leave us or forsake us no matter where we are or what is going on in our lives as long as we are faithful to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

FINDING THE BEST

            A doctor was reviewing his list of patients, and said to his nurse, “I can’t understand it. We had more patients last year than we have had this year. I wonder where they are going.” “Rather than worry,” said his nurse, “let’s hope for their best.”

            In the routines of life, it's easy to settle for hoping things turn out for the best. Yet, we have the best – the gift of God’s salvation. His provision in the present and His promise for eternity. David, writing in Psalm 23 said, “You (God) prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies.” No matter how difficult our days or how dark our nights, God will provide for our every need.

            And Jesus said, “…if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” When our life on earth ends and we have completed the work that He has for us to do, we have His Word that He will take us to be with Him forever. This transforms mere hope into confident assurance: God cares for us fully now, sustaining us through every trial, and will one day welcome us home forever, where His best is realized without end in His unchanging love. We simply need to ask as did the thief on the cross: “Lord, remember me.”

 

Prayer: Father, we ask for Your salvation now and the assurance of life with You in heaven. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39-43

Where Do I Begin?

A company was well known for its highly effective sales personnel. They were able to outperform all of their competitors by their volume of sales, the new customers they attracted and the loyalty of their old ones.

Once, during an interview, a professor asked the personnel director what he did to attract so many outstanding people to his company. After thinking for a moment he replied, “We give them a water test.”

The professor was surprised. He thought he knew of every pre-employment test available. So, he asked, “What is the water test?”

“Well,” he responded, “before we hire anyone, we take them into a room where the faucet is running, the sink is overflowing and water is pouring onto the floor. We offer the person a mop and say, ‘Mop up the water.’ If they begin to mop up the water without turning off the faucet, we know they are poor problem solvers and decision makers, and they would not be good employees. So, we don’t hire them.”

Too often Christians try to “clean” up their lives without turning “off” old habits and behaviors that lead to sin. If we want to become who God wants us to become, we must turn away from every temptation that can distract, defeat and destroy us. We can solve the problem of sinning by deciding to keep away from evil.

Prayer:  We look to You, Heavenly Father, for insight and guidance as we face the difficult choices of life. May we always recognize our need for Your wisdom. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today:    Reject every kind of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:22

The Greatest of These

Abraham Lincoln was known for his kindness to everyone. He was often criticized by his associates for being so gracious.

On one occasion one of them said, “With all of the power you have, why don’t you destroy your enemies?”

“Am I not destroying my enemies,” he asked, “when I make them my friends?”

Perhaps there is no more misunderstood or misused word in our world today than the word “love.” Nearly everyone has their own personal meaning for it. For some it has a “sexual” meaning. For others it has an “I like to be with you” meaning. And there are those who see love as demonstrating an unselfish concern for others - helping them when they are unable to help themselves or even provide for themselves.

Paul speaks of a love that is supremely concerned with the best interests and welfare of others. It is a love that makes the needs and concerns of others my very own. It is as though I am saying, “I don’t walk away from the needs of others, I take them with me. If they have a need, it is my need. If they hurt, I hurt. If they are in pain, it is my pain as well. If they have no food, I will share my food with them.”

As Christians we must move beyond the feeling, sentimental and emotional types of love to a love that forces us to do what Jesus would have us to do for others.

Prayer:  Lord, we see in Your life and death the real meaning of love. Strengthen us to live as you lived and to love as You loved so others will see You in our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today:   Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13

"Make Your Plans Large!"

One of my most prized possessions is my mother’s Bible. Shortly after she went to be with the Lord, I was leafing through the well-worn and tear-stained pages. In the margin next to Ephesians 3:20 she had written, “If God is your partner, make your plans large.”

In that passage of Scripture, Paul wrote, “Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” What power, Paul?

Here Paul is speaking about the mighty power that raised Christ from the dead: the power that is available to Christians that comes from the living God. This power from God enables us to accomplish not only more than is possible for us to do on our own - but we are enabled to accomplish exceedingly abundantly more than we might even be able to ask or think!

God wants to work in and through the lives of His children - you and me. He wants to make His mighty power that raised His Son, Jesus Christ, from the grave available to each of us. So we must expand how we think.

Exceedingly suggests excessiveness and abundantly means overflowing, or an overabundance of something. But he does not end with those words. He continues by adding more than we can ask or think!

 If we sincerely take God at His Word, the only limitations on Christians are the ones we place on God.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, it is beyond our abilities to truly understand the “mighty power” that is available to us. Increase our faith so we, in turn, can do more for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today:  Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Ephesians 3:20