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

DID GOD REALLY CAUSE THE FIRE?

Shortly after a new nightclub was opened near a church, the members decided to call an all-night prayer meeting. While they were praying, a powerful thunderstorm engulfed the city, and lightning struck the club and burned it to the ground.

The owner became angry and decided to sue the church. At the hearing, however, the church denied any and all responsibility for the destruction of the club.

Confused, the judge exclaimed, “I’m not sure where the guilt may lie. On one hand the nightclub owner believes in prayer, but the members of the church don’t.”

On one occasion when Jesus was teaching His followers and disciples about eternal life someone asked, “But who can be saved?” He replied, “Humanly speaking, it is something man cannot do. But with God, all things are possible.”

Prayer is asking and receiving. It is not hoping or wishing or wondering. It is receiving. Yet, it is not unusual for Christians to be amazed, even surprised, when God answers a prayer that exceeds their faith. How interesting.

Perhaps that’s why Jesus made that statement when talking about salvation. Consider this: if God can redeem us from our sinful state and grant us eternal life, can He not do anything we ask in His name and for His glory?

Prayer:  Help us, Father, to have a faith that is bigger than our problems, stronger than the attacks of Satan and larger than any doubt that would ever defeat us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today:      Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”  Mark 10:27

DECREASE TO INCREASE

A nearby church called a new pastor. He was well received and in a short time the church began to grow. The attendance at Sunday school and worship services increased beyond expectations. Even the number of people at prayer meeting surprised everyone.

“Congratulations on the way your church is responding to you,” I said after being introduced to him. “What are you doing differently than most other churches to see such growth?”

“I’m decreasing,” was his strange reply.

“Decreasing?” I asked with a question mark on my face.

“Yes,” came his quick reply. “It’s what John said about Jesus: ‘He will increase if I will decrease.’“

John’s willingness to decrease is an important first step in humility. Those of us who want to serve God with the gifts He has given us are always tempted to do what John did in reverse order: we want the attention and focus to be upon us and what we are doing when blessings occur and success arrives.

We must never forget that it is always about Him. If we want to see Him at work in our lives, we must do as John did so successfully: point to Him and make Him the “main attraction.” We must never put ourselves first. We must stand aside and let His Kingdom grow!

Prayer:  Lord, it’s difficult to get out of the way and not want to be praised in what we do for You. We pray for hearts that are humble and lives that are surrendered to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today:     He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. John 3:30

BECOMING CHRIST-LIKE

A sculptor was beginning a new project, and a reporter came to interview him about his work. He had never talked to a sculptor before so he asked, “What are you going to create?”

“A horse standing on its hind legs,” he answered.

“How will you do such a thing?” he wondered.

“By knocking off everything that doesn’t look like a horse,” he replied.

Paul in writing to the Corinthians said, “Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.” God, we are reminded by Paul, is in deed and in fact, shaping us in the likeness of Christ.

As Christians, we need to know and accept the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We may at times think that we are at the end of our rope but as followers of Christ we are never at the end of our hope!

As the sculptor with his block of marble, our loving Lord is “knocking off” everything in our lives that is not Christ-like. We sing our songs and say our prayers and tell others that “we want to be like Him.” And someday we will be.

But until that day arrives we must be patient and willing to submit to His will, allow Him to work in us and on us so that He may work through us.

Prayer:  We know, Heavenly Father, that You have a plan for each of us to become like Your Son. Give us the desire to work with You while You complete your plan. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today:     Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 2 Corinthians 4:1-10

ASK AND ASK AND ASK AGAIN!

As she tucked little Lynn into bed, her Mom asked, “Have you said your prayers yet?”

“Well, not really,” she answered. “I started to say them. I got down on my knees and when I started saying them I remembered that they were the same ones that I said last night. Since I didn’t want to bore God, I told Him the story of the Three Bears. I hope He liked it.”

Our prayers never bore God. In fact, Jesus said just the opposite. On one occasion when He was teaching people to pray, He advised them to “Continue to ask until you get what you want; continue to search until you find what you are looking for and continue to knock on the door that is closed until it is opened.” So, there is an important lesson for us here.

God will always answer our prayers; but He will answer them in His time and in the way that reveals His perfect wisdom and perfect love. If He were to answer our prayers as soon as we offered them, it might be the worst possible thing for us. Often we ask for things that, if they were granted immediately, would be our ruin and bring about our destruction!

Jesus assures us that God will answer our prayers if we insist and persist. Not only will He answer them at the right time but that we will eventually and ultimately understand the wisdom, love and plan He has for us.

Prayer:  Lord, we not only ask for the determination to keep on asking, seeking and knocking, but for the patience to wait upon You knowing that the answer will come. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today:     Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-11