The Reward

18 “Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon drove his army in a hard campaign against Tyre; every head was rubbed bare and every shoulder made raw. Yet he and his army got no reward from the campaign he led against Tyre.  Ezekiel 29

I've listened to this chapter the entire last week, and this verse in particular stands out to me every time.  "Every head was rubbed bare and every shoulder made raw."  Do you know how long they would have had to have a helmet on in order to rub a head completely bare?  I don't know, but I can only imagine the pain and exhaustion involved.  They were called to do something that would stretch them to the extremes, and even then, it says that there was no reward.  

We are all called to be a part of God's purpose.  What specifically that is will vary between each of us.  However, we do know one thing, we have a reward waiting for us in heaven.  No matter how hard things get, how painful or how strenuous, we have a place of rest ahead of us.  We have a place that will be joyful and peaceful.  Set your eyes on Jesus to help you through those times when you feel that your head and shoulders are rubbed raw. 

Thurs Devo: Secrets Known

My sisters and I were trying to keep a secret from my parents for their 40^th anniversary dinner. The secret didn’t last long, though. My parents almost booked a trip to visit my granddad (in Texas) for the same weekend my youngest sister and her husband were secretly flying here (to Michigan) to celebrate! The secret had to be revealed so that my parents could plan to be here to enjoy their own anniversary dinner!

Even as grownups, it’s hard to keep a secret from our parents. With Jesus, it’s actually impossible! He knows everything about everyone! 

Revelation 2:18-23         ¹⁸ “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. ¹⁹ I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

²⁰ Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. ²¹ I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. ²² So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. ²³ I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

Jesus knows all. He sees our secret sins. He also sees our loving actions that no one else recognizes or appreciates.

How is it both comforting and challenging to know Jesus searches each of our hearts?

As holy and perfect as Jesus is, He patiently gives us opportunities to repent. Sometimes it takes bringing things into the open to motivate us to repent and turn from our sinful ways. Then, we can enjoy a renewed relationship with Him!

Alice

Obsolete Children

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.  Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.  1 John 3:1-2

The other day, I read a silly quote that said, “Adults are obsolete children.”  That was written by Dr. Seuss.  I read Dr. Seuss books when I was little.  In fact, I can still recite my favorite quote from his book, ‘Stop That Ball!’  It said, “I whacked it high!  I whacked it low!  I whacked it so hard the string let go!”  There is a far greater lesson for me in remembering this other than a childhood memory.  It is a reminder that the innocence and joy I had as a child is something to aspire to.  It is important that I bring the exuberance, excitement, pure heartedness, and fun loving attitude about my faith like a child.  It is not because being a follower of Christ is fun and games.  Instead, it is knowing there is no better place than to be a child of the wonderful, majestic, and Holy God.

We are to embrace our role of children of God.  I love the letter in first James as today’s verse as it discusses our place as God’s children.  We have the knowledge of knowing Him intimately through His word and His Holy Spirit that dwells within us.  Are there times we will feel like we are in utter darkness and experience fear?  Yes.  Will we be tempted into sin and may at times fail?  Absolutely.  But as God’s children, we have the shining perfected example of our Heavenly Father, and this becomes our guide to righteousness.  We see Jesus as foretold in Isaiah 9:6 as the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  We take on His traits as born again through Christ.  Yet while we continue to grow in Him, we must not lose the child like joy in being with Him.  There is no greater love than Jesus Christ has for us, and to have it, we should feel comfort, peace, warmth, and that feeling when you have an abundance of everything you ever needed.  That’s what it is like to truly understand you are a child of God.

To be a child of God does not come with just personal fulfillment.  It requires us to act.  Jesus said, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)  The children’s gospel song “This Little Light of Mine,” simply says, “This little light of mine.  I’m gonna let it shine!”  As God’s children, we contain His light within.  We in kind must let it shine with brightly inspired by the energy all children possess.  What is taking away your child-like passion for Christ?  How can you better embrace the idea of being a child of God?  My prayer is that we go joyously in our journey of faith and not become ‘obsolete Children.’  Amen.  

Tues Devo: The continuation

Hello,

As the Pistons start the new season off at 3-0, I thought perhaps a basketball analogy would be a slam dunk!

Continuation – the hope to be rewarded when you are fouled in a more positive way than just the foul call itself; either by counting a basket or being awarded some free throws.

Things in life rarely are super smooth – especially for too long! But when things don’t seem to go your way and you want to call foul, what do you do? Do you stop and complain – or do you push through it hoping to still do something great in spite of the foul? I thought it may be good to read a couple verses on continuation – the best things come when you don’t stop in the face of challenges.

·         John 8:31-32 “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’” (NASB)

·         2 Timothy 3:13-15 ”But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (NASB)

·         Hebrews 13:1-2 “Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” (NASB)

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill

Cast your anxiety on him!

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Today I’m keeping it simple and real. I’m actually writing this to myself and hopefully it’s something that someone else benefits from as well. Without going into a lot of detail, I’m dealing with a medical procedure today and being honest, I’m anxious. It’s nothing really but still, I’m anxious. I’m spending time this morning trying to give it to God because I know that he is in control and takes care of us.

What is it that you need to give to him? What is it that you find yourself anxious about that you need to turn over to him?



My prayer for you today is that in all things, big or small, you would turn to God and cast all of you’re anxieties, concerns, excitements, praises, everything, on him. He cares!