November 16 – Called by God

“God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:9 (NIV)

The main statement of this verse is that God is faithful. The special significance of this statement here is based on the project that God is working on. Did you notice what it is that God has done and has planned for us? We read that He has called us into fellowship with His own Son, Jesus Christ.  First we know that God is the one that calls us. We cannot find our own way in.  He calls those he chooses to call.  That is how any of  the believers become members of His family. So what does that mean – to have fellowship with Jesus? It means a relationship of sharing. We enter the family of God by accepting what Jesus did for us on the cross. Once we accept with the faith God has given to us, we are full heirs with Jesus Christ. Now in His family, God calls us to a continual sharing relationship with Jesus – a daily and hourly fellowship with Him. And God will be faithful to make this fellowship real.

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August 21 – Planning with Forethought

“Lord, you are my God;  I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.”  Isaiah 25:1 – (NIV)

This verse today is one that can bring encouragement and we might use as a means of expressing our gratitude to our God for all that He has done for us.  It is God who brings the good and wonderful things into our lives and these things were planned long before we experienced them.  That means that He has considered our well being even before we came into this world.  He has made plans for us and for all who believe in Him.  As this verse comes within a prophecy of judgments on the nations and people that rejected God, we take even greater comfort to know that in such times we are offered peace.  God has promised to judge the world and He has promised that we will enjoy eternity with Him.  God's actions are not decided upon suddenly with no forethought, they are planned and faithfully carried out.  For that, we lift up His name and praise Him today.  

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June 18 – Perfectly Planned Long Ago

“Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.” Isaiah 25:1 (NIV)

Today and any day we can join with the prophet Isaiah who wrote these words of praise to God.  God has not changed and His faithfulness is indeed perfect. What God has planned, He has done and will do – wonderful things. Isaiah recognized that God had long before planned what He would do at that time to help His people. And, He had carried out His plan by helping them.  Can we believe that God knew us that long ago? Yes, friends, God's plans for you and for me were in His mind and heart before Isaiah's time. He knew us long ago and He knew what our needs would be today. And He carries out His plans as we trust Him. Our God is a personal God who deals with each of us personally. So let's renew, each day, our commitment to Him as Isaiah did.  Let's praise the name of God and exalt Him in all we think, say and do.