God will comfort his people. When we are suffering he will not crush us or chastise us, but speaks to us words of hope and comfort. Scripture says, “A bruised reed he will not break, and smoking flax he will not quench” (Mathew 12:20). Isaiah put it this way, “A bruised reed he will not break a dimly burning wick he will not extinguish (Isaiah 42:3).
A psalmist wrote, “He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds” (Ps 147:3). If you are in emotional pain today, rest your head on his shoulder and allow him to comfort you.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Jobs
A group of men and women in ragged clothes stood in front of the unemployment office. Here and there two or three would strike up a conversation, but the topic covered things like the poor quality of government, the high price of groceries and the unjust boss. Most stood with shoulders slopped, heads bent and hands in their pockets, silent in the afternoon heat.
A long legged man who stood head and shoulders above the crowd came to a small group at the back of the line. Quietly he invited them to join him in a walk to the back side of the building. Raising their shoulders to one another they stepped in line behind the stranger and disappeared from the crowd. Those in front of the line were too busy complaining to take notice making no protest.
For several weeks the unemployment process continued as normal. Then early one morning the tall legged man stood on the front step of the unemployment office and made the following announcement. “I have chosen to give my large fortune to a certain number of you.” The line lost its form as everyone crowded near the front waving hands hoping to get the attention of the speaker. “These chosen few are already chosen and have received the wealth I have accumulated over the last fifty years. You may apply to them for any additional benefits you may need.” With that he quickly stepped inside the door and locked it.
The people were furious. They pounded on the door and demanded their rights. Someone picked up a rock and threw it through a window. In a matter of minutes the door was forced open and every windowpane shattered in a million tiny pieces of glass.
Each one fell silent as they pushed their way past the entrance. The building was entirely empty, no chairs, no desks, no telephones, no computers, no faxes, nothing.
Furious, most people stormed out of the building yelling obscenities as they made their way back to their lean-tos. A few fell to their knees on the hard cement and wept. The sun set and the air cooled. Exhausted those who remained in the building found places to sleep on the floor. Near midnight, the moon forming a blue hue through the broken windows, the stranger returned and woke each sleeping form. “Come with me,’ he said gently. “I have prepared a place for you too.”
(Mathew 12: 21; Romans 15:8-12)
A long legged man who stood head and shoulders above the crowd came to a small group at the back of the line. Quietly he invited them to join him in a walk to the back side of the building. Raising their shoulders to one another they stepped in line behind the stranger and disappeared from the crowd. Those in front of the line were too busy complaining to take notice making no protest.
For several weeks the unemployment process continued as normal. Then early one morning the tall legged man stood on the front step of the unemployment office and made the following announcement. “I have chosen to give my large fortune to a certain number of you.” The line lost its form as everyone crowded near the front waving hands hoping to get the attention of the speaker. “These chosen few are already chosen and have received the wealth I have accumulated over the last fifty years. You may apply to them for any additional benefits you may need.” With that he quickly stepped inside the door and locked it.
The people were furious. They pounded on the door and demanded their rights. Someone picked up a rock and threw it through a window. In a matter of minutes the door was forced open and every windowpane shattered in a million tiny pieces of glass.
Each one fell silent as they pushed their way past the entrance. The building was entirely empty, no chairs, no desks, no telephones, no computers, no faxes, nothing.
Furious, most people stormed out of the building yelling obscenities as they made their way back to their lean-tos. A few fell to their knees on the hard cement and wept. The sun set and the air cooled. Exhausted those who remained in the building found places to sleep on the floor. Near midnight, the moon forming a blue hue through the broken windows, the stranger returned and woke each sleeping form. “Come with me,’ he said gently. “I have prepared a place for you too.”
(Mathew 12: 21; Romans 15:8-12)
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Welcome
God choose Abraham to be the Father of his people. But his descendents were not the only people God would choose to serve him. Mathew tells us, “And in his name Gentiles will trust” (Mathew 12:21). This is good news to those of us who are not Jewish by birth.
Paul put it this way, “They are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children who are the seed of Abraham, but in Isaac shall your seed be blessed. The children of the flesh are not the children of God, but the children of the promise shall be called the seed.”
John told us, “If we confess our sins, he (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). John also wrote, “As many as received him to them he gave the power to become the children of God, even as many as believe on his name” (John 1:12). Jesus said, “Whoever hears my word and believes in Him who sent me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life” (John 5:24).
We are not physically born into the kingdom of God. We enter by faith in God and his Son Jesus Christ (John 3:36, John 6:37-39; Romans 8:9-11). We come to God because he calls us. We desire God because he wants us.
All who believe in him are welcomed into his presence, even me.
Paul put it this way, “They are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children who are the seed of Abraham, but in Isaac shall your seed be blessed. The children of the flesh are not the children of God, but the children of the promise shall be called the seed.”
John told us, “If we confess our sins, he (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). John also wrote, “As many as received him to them he gave the power to become the children of God, even as many as believe on his name” (John 1:12). Jesus said, “Whoever hears my word and believes in Him who sent me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life” (John 5:24).
We are not physically born into the kingdom of God. We enter by faith in God and his Son Jesus Christ (John 3:36, John 6:37-39; Romans 8:9-11). We come to God because he calls us. We desire God because he wants us.
All who believe in him are welcomed into his presence, even me.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Spiritual Advertising
Jesus often told someone he healed not to tell others. This fulfilled prophecy in the Old Testament, “Nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets” (Mathew 12:19). Jesus did not have to brag. He simply allowed the father to work through him (John 14:10).
How different than many today who claim to perform miracles. They send out fliers in order to spread their names as far and wide as possible.
If God works through us, it is not for our glory, but for his.
How different than many today who claim to perform miracles. They send out fliers in order to spread their names as far and wide as possible.
If God works through us, it is not for our glory, but for his.
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