May 13 – Eyes Opened Through Faith

"Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:8-9 (NASB)

Peter, the disciple of Jesus, became one of the foremost apostles who helped spread the news of the early Christian Church. He also was used by the Holy Spirit to write some of the books in the New Testament. Peter walked with Jesus and heard him teach and watched him do miracles and heal all who came to Him with physical or spiritual need. Many times Peter ate meals with Jesus and talked with him face to face while breaking bread together. Peter wrote these words in his first letter to believers in the new Church. In the same way we have never seen Jesus as Peter did but we love Him and we believe in Him. These words are also given to us and can be applied to us personally. We can experience the “inexpressible joy and be filled with glory” because we have believed in Jesus the Christ – even though we have never seen Him.  Our faith has opened the eyes of our hearts and minds to believe in Him as our Savior and Lord.  It is hard to express sometimes but in our hearts we know He is true. It’s a joy to have that assurance.

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July 24 – Not One Word Failed

“And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.” -Joshua 23:14  (ESV)

Joshua, the son of Nun has finished the course.  He has done the job God gave him to do.  After the death of Moses, God promised Joshua that He will be with him wherever he goes.  God cautions him to not turn from his path to the right or to the left. Isn’t this a good instruction for us today?  God  also commands Joshua to be strong, courageous and not frightened. No dismay allowed because God was with Joshua. And Joshua obeyed God and followed God’s commandments. God blessed Joshua with a long life but now it was appointed for Joshua to leave the earth.  He wants to leave the people with reminders he knows they will need. We too need to remember these promises. First remember that not one word that God has given to us has failed. The enemies of the Gospel and our God will do all they can to tell us otherwise but here is the truth. All have come to pass for us. Not one of them has failed or will fail in the future. Every good thing God has promised concerning us has or will yet come to pass for us.  Believe it today.

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October 3

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  Matthew 11:29 (NIV)

This is an invitation given by our Lord Jesus when He was here on earth. The picture He draws is of the way people in those days joined two animals together to accomplish some needed work. An inexperienced animal would learn how to pull together with one that knew how. Jesus wants to bring us close to Himself so that we will learn how to accomplish God’s will. He wants to teach us how to work with Him for our own good. And as we work closely with Him our souls will be blessed. We will learn to trust Him and to help us live as we should. And in trusting Him we will have peace and spiritual rest. Let us respond to Him today.