Our Journey to Adoption, Part VI - Jesus is Enough!

As we saw last week, the blind man faced quite the opposition right after he received his sight.  He was taken to the Pharisees for questioning, his parents weren’t supportive, and he was eventually thrown out of the synagogue!  Jesus didn’t leave him there, though. 

 John 9:35-38                ³⁵Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" ³⁶"Who is he, sir?" the man asked. "Tell me so that I may believe in him." ³⁷Jesus said, "You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you." ³⁸Then the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him.

Jesus didn’t get the man reinstated into the synagogue or fix his relationships, but He did reveal more of Himself to him. He helped the man’s faith continue to grow, which was far more important. In response, the man chose not to focus on what he didn’t have or what he lost but instead chose to focus on what he did have and who Jesus was. Jesus was enough!

That’s a lesson God continually impressed on me through our adoption journey. Last winter as court dates kept not being scheduled or scheduled and then canceled, it was easy to get frustrated. We even saw a third fertility doctor and finally tried insemination twice, to no success. However, after starting my period for about the hundredth time since our miscarriage, I was able to praise God! We were studying the book of Revelation at the time and how worthy Jesus always is! He is enough! 

Where else do you and I need to turn our focus away from what we don’t have or what we’ve lost and instead remember what we do have and who Jesus is? He is always approachable, always available, always there, always offering help, and always worthy of worship. Jesus is enough!

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Who is Worthy?

Last week we saw how God is worthy of all praise and honor. Is there anyone else that is worthy? Will we ever be worthy?

None of us are holy or righteous. The only way we can be seen as holy and righteous in God’s eyes is to believe in Jesus’ work on our behalf (His death, resurrection and exaltation). Philippians 3:9…not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

So, will we one day be worthy, as well? I don’t think so. Worthy means morally upright and fully deserving. We are holy and righteous because God has consecrated and justified us by His grace and mercy through the blood of Jesus. However, we will never be fully deserving.

The next passage in Revelation points out that there is no one on earth or in Heaven that is worthy. 

Revelation 5:1-7       Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. ² And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” ³ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. ⁴ I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. ⁵ Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

⁶ Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.⁷ He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.

Only triumphant Jesus, the Lamb slain for us, is worthy before God!

Let’s celebrate today and tomorrow the real reason for the season – Jesus was sent as a baby to be slain on a cross for you and me! He deserves and is worthy of our focus and praise!!!

Merry Christmas!
Alice 

Thurs Devo: Spectacular Scene, Part II

Soon after posting the devotional last Thursday, I read the verse and prayer on my desk flip calendar. Guess where it was from and what it was about? It was a verse from Revelation chapter 4 and it was about not having the words to adequately describe God’s spectacular creation! It tied right in with last week’s devotional! Amazing!!!

Here was the prayer: “Dearest Creator of all things, we praise Your name. We praise Your creativity in making such a wondrous world. Just thinking of how all things on earth work together is amazing. We don’t have the words to adequately tell you how truly spectacular we think Your creation is to us. You are worthy of all praise. Amen.”

Not only is God’s creation spectacular and amazing, but His timing blows me away every time!!!

As we read the other half of Revelation chapter 4 today, what stands out to you?

Revelation 4:6b-11 In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. ⁷ The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. ⁸ Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty,’
who was, and is, and is to come.”
⁹ Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, ¹⁰ the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: ¹¹ “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
    and by your will they were created
    and have their being.”


Alice