February 3 – Feasting Without Fear

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” – Psalm 23:5 (ESV)

In this verse the psalmist changes the illustration. Now the example is more about people, not sheep. In this verse the scene is a feast where a gracious host provides lavish hospitality. Under this metaphor the psalmist is rejoicing in the Lord’s provision. What was comforting to David was that this meal was set in the presence of his enemies. Despite the danger looming around him, the Lord spreads out a table for him, once again telling how God provides for him and for us. The image of anointing the head with oil indicates a host who has great appreciation and wants to make his guest feel refreshed.  Oil was soothing and aromatic.  Its scent was extremely pleasant.  This picture corresponds with the concept of a gracious host welcoming someone into his home. In view of the table and the oil, David knew that his lot in life was his cup which God was filling abundantly with His blessings. Our Lord cares about our ‘cup’ which is our life. Cups were important and precious as lives are precious and important to God. He wants to fill ours to overflowing with His grace and mercy and love. 

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October 4 – All Hope and No Shame

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”  1 Peter 1:13  (ESV)

Again we find our verse of promise in the first letter Peter wrote to believers who were suffering under the persecution of Nero. It reminds us about how we are to live since we are believers alive in Christ Jesus. Our promise is the grace given to us the moment Jesus Christ is revealed once again to the world at his Second Coming. Grace is what we live on each day. It is also a future promise and we are called to set our hope full on this promise of grace. How? We do so by making ourselves ready for action today.  “Take this seriously,” is what Peter is saying. God has promised us the grace that will carry us through to the time He wraps things up on this earth. We are tempted and distracted by other enticements which derail our commitment to Jesus in this life. But our hope is a hope we will realize – we are promised it will never disappoint us or shame us to trust this hope. So, we are to place our hope fully and squarely on the promise of grace that will be ours when our inheritance is revealed.  

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February 26 – We Have A Place Made Ready

“In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And 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.”  John 14:2-3 (ESV)
“Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.”  Hebrews 11:16 (ESV)

It was their last night and Passover meal together and Jesus was preparing his disciples for the sad news that He was going to return to His Father in heaven.  He tells them He is going where they cannot follow.  Jesus then tells them to not be troubled but to understand finally who He is – one with the Father. He gives them some comfort by telling them that while he will be leaving them, he is going to prepare a place for them.  He’s coming back. He will take them to be with Him.  The excitement we have is that these promises are for us as well.  Jesus offers a prayer to His Father, for his disciples and for those of us who have believed in Jesus upon hearing the words carried on by the disciples, the words written through the inspiration of Holy Spirit so we have them in the Bible. (John 17:20 ESV)  Our second promise is from the letter to the Hebrew believers and confirms that God has already prepared a city for those who believe. He is our God and we give Him the glory He deserves.  Let’s start doing that today. 

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August 13 – A Place, A Return, A Gathering, Forever

“And 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.” John 14:3 -   (NASB)

The Gospel of John give us an account of what Jesus said to His disciples at their observance of Passover Seder. We believe that Jesus' words in John 13-17 were spoken before they went out to the garden where Jesus was arrested.  Many promises were given at this time and much encouragement was offered because Jesus knew they would need it.  Judas was planning a betrayal for a bounty.  Peter was soon going to deny that he even knew Jesus and he was going to do it three times. Most of the rest would run for their lives and hide in fear. We believe the promises and encouragement are intended for all who have believed in Jesus as Savior and Lord.  Our verse today has four promises, or maybe we might say, four parts to one promise.  Jesus promises to prepare a place for us.  Jesus promises that He will come again.  Jesus promises that He will take us to Himself.  Jesus promises that we will be where Jesus is and that is for all eternity.  A place prepared, He comes again to gather His believers to have them with Him for the rest of time without end.  Let these promises be front and center today as we each attend to our responsibilities and duties.  

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May 30 – Sustaining To The Very End

“who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:8 (ESV)

We often come here to be reminded that our God is actively involved in the lives of His children – us who believe and have received Jesus Christ as our Savior by faith. Today's verse is one such reminder and it is a promise from God's Word. This promise was not only for Christians living in Corinth almost 2000 years ago. It is for all Christians living today. If you are a believer in Jesus it is for you today and it is for you as long as your are living here on this earth.  God is active in our lives in preparation for our time in eternity. Our verse reminds us that He is strengthening us every day to keep us strong to the end of our lives here. His purpose is to prepare us for the time we will be with Him in eternity. He wants to purify us so that we will be blameless when our life on earth is over. It is His doing, not ours, and we are called to have faith, believing the promises He has given to us. Let's rejoice that we do not have to face the hours, days, and years ahead alone, God is with us and He will sustain us to the end.