A Daily Devotional – Creation – The Eternal Word (26)

A Daily Devotional – Creation – The Eternal Word

Comment: Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. Do you meditate on scripture such as this (Psalm 119:89)? Most of us read as if we are in a hurry to get to the next paragraph, or even to the end of a chapter or book. I suppose the inner thoughts of people vary, but I have stopped reading, just to say that I have read; (does that make sense?). For some, reading through scripture is like the traveler who searches for one or two items in his or her suitcase and when found leaves the remainder unpacked until needed. If items remain it is because these or ignored and not because of need; that is, if packed it must have been NEEDED.

Devotional: Reading and meditating on every Word of the Living God is exciting, and if we are guilty of picking and choosing just what is needed at any given moment in time, we are missing out on MUCH blessing from God. Let me explain!

“Forever, O LORD, Your Word is settled in heaven” the psalmist is looking at the eternality of God’s Word. That word “settled” literally means that the Word of God STANDS FIRM. Time cannot remove or change God’s Word. Man’s thoughts of evolution pale against the backdrop of eternity, no matter how many thousands or billions of years projected by the evolutionist, evolution has no effect on the word “forever”. Thus the literal earth is ONLY six to seven thousand years old.

“Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth and it abides. They continue this day; according to Your ordinances, for all are Your servants”. The earth stands, it has stood from the beginning of Creation and each generation of the past would agree. Since the beginning, God’s FAITHFULNESS to His Creation does not fail. We have continued generation after generation because the ordinances of God continue to respond to Him as servants, that is; Creation obeys God while serving man's need to survive.

“Unless Your law had been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, for by them you have given me life”. If we fail to meditate and delight our soul in the Laws of God (such as the Law of Creation), then the only alternative is to perish in the affliction of error. The error of ‘religion’ or ‘humanistic ideologies’ will overcome us and we will forget God. The Laws and Ordinances of God’s Creation when studied and meditated on will become PRECEPTS or nuggets TRUTH giving life to our soul.

A Daily Devotional – Consolation (2) – The Eternal Word

A Daily Devotional – Consolation – The Eternal Word

Comment: I suppose this happens more than I would like, but the Bible reference of Matthew 5:19, yesterday is wrong as it should have been Matthew 6:19. As Messiah, Jesus is the Consolation of Israel and as the Lamb, Jesus becomes the Consolation for every soul that trusts Him. The apostle John records the words of Jesus after He washed the feet of His disciple regarding this gift of consolation (peace), see John 14:25-31 and especially verse 27. Jesus the Lamb of God provides our peace through the Holy Spirit. As God’s children, we are ambassadors of His Peace. Our witness in the Spirit reveals to the world that Jesus/Messiah came to do His Father’s Will.

Devotional: As it is every Christmas, the opportunity to reveal the Consolation of the Father’s Will to Israel and the world is now. It takes little effort in the human mind to feel a lack of peace in the community and world around us. The stench of unrest is all around and people who do not know the peace of God, have no peace with God or their fellow man. Yes, this can be a play on words and may gain a chuckle; but this is not the intent.

We might like to think that God does not care to remind us every year of the birthday of His Son. We may even want to believe that His Birth among the billions born over time is to be LOST like all the rest. Also, we might even redefine December 25^th as a secular holiday. May I remind all of us that the word “holiday” is the combination of two words which are, “holy day”. I know you knew that, but it is just a reminder.

Biblical FAITH, HOPE and LOVE of God’s children provide the only avenue of peace for the world around us. Could it be that the church of Jesus Christ is following in the footsteps of Israel who became complacent with the presenting their Messiah as King of Peace (Salem, Genesis 14 and Hebrews 7). Are we not just as guilty in presenting the Babe in the manger as the Risen Lamb of God who is the only ONE worthy to open the scroll of Revelation 5.

Jesus will return, maybe in our approaching days. He will not return as a Babe, but will come again. This time as the King of kings and the LORD of lords, Revelation 19:11-16. In this; Christ will restore peace in the world. Not by the power of the Spirit in the faith, hope and love of His saints, but as the Mighty King of heaven and earth. In the meantime, and while we still have opportunity, let us proclaim Christmas and the Babe in the manger, even as Jesus Himself charged us in Matthew 28:16-20. Jesus here was not speaking specifically to Missionaries, He was speaking to all of His children.

A Daily Devotional – Consolation – The Eternal Word (25)

A Daily Devotional – Consolation – The Eternal Word

Comment: Many if not all devout people of various religions are not consoled by their faith in religious works. Their attention and attendance to the articles of worship within a religions system of dos and don’ts may be spot on, but the heart is never satisfied. I believe that the ONE reason the world around us experiences so much unrest at this season of the year is that our soul longs to be consoled by GOD. This is a serious matter; not only in the United States of America, but throughout the world, nations, tribes and people groups seek peace and gifts. We do so in the name of humanity and not in the NAME of GOD. Thus, our peace and gifts are TEMPORARY like the treasures of Matthew 5:19.

Devotional: Walking by FAITH in GOD is not being devout in works, nor is it giving temporal gifts to one another. If this be true! What then is walking by FAITH? This morning we will look at what I believe is one important aspect of personal FAITH; Luke 2:25-35.

25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law,

28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

29 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word;

30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation

31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,

32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel."

33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.

34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against

35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

The man Simeon was devout, he was looking for the comfort that comes to Israel and to all peoples. He was filled with the Holy Spirit who guided him in Truth (the Word of God). He was guided also in his personal life about various insights (death and life are in the Hands of God). Simeon saw God’s Promise to Israel and the world found in the full context of Luke’s gospel. If you desire to leave this earth in PEACE, let the eyes of your soul rest on the PEACE of God’s gift to you, it is not a temporal gift of human works that will ROT. It is however the GIFT that Jesus speaks of in Matthew 6:20-21 and that of the apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 2:15.