Engaging my mouth!

Scripture:  Psalm 107:2  “Has the Lord redeemed you?  Then speak out!  Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.”

 

Observation:  The psalmist is clear – if the Lord has redeemed you, if He has delivered you from your enemies, there is one response – tell others!!!  There are no if’s, no but’s, no maybe’s here – no “waiting for the right moment”.  If another person does something wonderful for us, we long to share it with others.  The Psalmist is saying that the redemption of the Lord is no different (in fact, it’s better than anything any other human being is capable of doing for us), and our response must be clear & unequivocal – share that Good News with others by telling them!!!

 

Application:  Am I so excited about what the Lord has done for me that I long to tell others?  I should be!  Here is the greatest gift ever given to humanity - & I have been a recipient!!  My response must be a desire to share this gift with those around me.  My life should reflect the joy of my salvation, the peace of God, the fruit of the Spirit.  But there’s still one more thing….I need to engage my mouth and actually tell others!  Not just because I “should” – but because the gift is so wonderful, I can’t hold it in!!!

 

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, how good You are!!  You have redeemed me from my enemies, & I am so grateful.  Forgive me for my hesitance to tell others!  Forgive me for fearing others & their responses instead of desiring above all things to bless them by telling them about Your gift of redemption.  I ask that, instead of a spirit of fear, You might infuse me afresh with your Spirit of love, so that telling others about You & the difference You have made in my life will no longer seem to be something forced & unnatural, but will become an act of the greatest love – Your love for them.  I know this needs Your wisdom & sensitivity, but it also needs obedience from me to “step out” and engage my mouth. May it become a joyful step!! 

 

In Jesus’ Name

 

Amen

 

 

Sue Otto

'A Polished Arrow'

Scripture:

Isaiah 49:2

He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of His hand He hid me, He made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in His quiver.”

Observation:

Isaiah has a great understanding and insight for his purpose in God. He is confident in what he has been called to do and where his confidence is placed. .. a mouth like a sharpened sword, and a direction as a polished arrow. He knows that he has not only been prepared by God, but he is also being strategically carried by God – hidden in His hand - and concealed in His quiver. Both these placements speak more of Strategic purpose rather than just a place of protection. Isaiah knew he was more than just an arrow being nurtured; he was in fact a polished arrow. One that had been prepared to hit a target at a given time, to bring the purposes of God to the people.

Application:

I see the challenge of being ‘a polished arrow’ as a preparation and purpose for my own life. In my humanity and weakness I can be quite content to hide in God’s hand, or to find and feel safety in the quiver. But a polished arrow is what God’s desire is for me. To submit myself to His dealings, his processes and knowing that the polishing will be used to make my direction and effectiveness more potent. How often I resist the polishing and hence become ineffective in God’s strategic purposes. I need to stir myself not to see the ‘quiver’ just as a place of safety or rest, but as a place where God carries me ready to be used with accuracy, purpose and potency. I guess there is no place in God’s quiver for any unpolished arrows.

Prayer:

Lord how wonderful are your purposes. Forgive me when I resist the polishing, and when I lose sight of the purpose for why you are doing the polishing. Help me to see more and more of the purpose to be hid in your hand and placed in your strategic quiver. Forgive me when I want to stay in the comfort of the quiver.

Ken Hooper

Smokin!

Scripture:

Isaiah 43:2

When you go through the deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up, the flames will not consume you.

Observation:

God says when you go through these times, which makes me think He’s emphasizing something! When trouble comes, not if but when, we will go through it! The water may get so deep that you feel as though you’re drowning and the flames are so hot that you feel you’re about to go up in smoke but our God says “I will be with you”. When the almighty creator says He will-then He will ! The trick is to believe Him and remain focused even if you can’t see where He is. Then having done all you can, then stand and just keep on standing and He’ll do the rest.

Application:

Every time one of these trials comes, I’m sure I’m going to fail, that I’m going to crash and burn but He’s always there, even when I can’t see or hear Him. I just know He’s there, that’s His promise to me. But each time my faith is stretched a little more and a little more. That fire of oppression is the biggie for me though, whenever it comes knocking at my door it’s usually some kind of fear but I’m learning more and more to lean on my Saviour and trust Him. Fear knocks on the door, faith answers and there’s nobody there!

Prayer:

Father, you are such a passionate Father. I thank you for loving me so completely the way you do. It makes a girl feel so accepted, treasured and wanted. I’m getting to understand how much you love your creation called man. Just being around you rubs off on me and I can’t help but love your people too. Please forgive me when I drop the ball sometimes and leave the game because I’ve been distracted by some kind of fear. Help me to keep on playing the game even when things get really hot because I know that eventually I’ll become fortified in faith. Amen.

Tracey Bence J

The Thread of Hope

Isaiah 40:31a

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. NIV

Observation:

Hope – Hope in the Lord. A small word but it can be the thread that ties you to the Maker – the awesome creator of heaven and earth. When all else fails hope in God can renew, replenish and refresh. The scripture ‘When I am weak I am strong’ comes to mind. It’s not about me and how much strength I have, it’s about how much hope do I have in the thread that binds me to my God.

Application:

How strong is my thread linking me to God? How much hope do I have in him? Do I trust enough in this thread to be as strong as an umbilical cord as if I’m linked unreservedly with my whole life? Sustenance and life can be my portion if I choose it to be - renewed strength daily as I am bound to God.

Prayer:

Lord, my hope is in you – you are my lifeline. It’s only by my hope in you that I can gain strength and be renewed daily. I choose this hope to be stronger than a thread but an umbilical cord that I will not cut.

Renew me again today Lord. In Jesus name. Amen

Terry B

Generations

Scripture

Isaiah 38: 19 “Only the living can thank you, as I am doing today. Each generation tells the next about your faithfulness”

 

Observation

In Hezekiah’s state of fear he calls out to God to give him the opportunity to continue his life for an extended period. He says that the testimony he will leave will be the legacy collected by the next generation and he wanted the chance to add to that. His prayer and cry to the Lord perhaps is a recognition of how much his life had fallen short of what he now understands as important. Perhaps his life had begun to neglect the importance of the relationship he had with God and he wanted to have more time to sharpen the intimacy of his worship. The fear of death and the loss of everything was a massive wakeup call to Hezekiah and an awakening of his spirit toward his Creator.

 

Application

Though not facing imminent death, I too need to learn from Hezekiah’s wakeup call and recognise my responsibility to pass on to the next generation the faithfulness and steadfastness of a daily walk with the Lord in my life. I need to ensure that I don’t take one moment for granted. In neglecting the Lords input into my life on a daily basis I am not only robbing myself of the Lords refining work in me but I am also devaluing the inhertiance I am leaving to my children and their children. God’s gift to me is one of generational continuance. I need to ensure that the compounding effect of my life and the testimony of God’s faithfulness within it is being constantly upgraded so that when I do come to the end of my days I can be assured that the legacy left for the next generation has been the best I could have given about His faithfulness.

 

Prayer

Lord, please forgive me when I forget my responsibility in the linkage of the generations. My life is not my own it belongs to you. I can either steward that life selfishly or allow it to be an investment within my own generation and a legacy for the generations to come.

 

Jim Jung

A Time of Restoration

Scripture:

2 Chronicles 29:6 “Our fathers were unfaithful; they did evil in the eyes of the Lord our God and forsook him.  They turned their faces away from the Lords dwelling place and turned their backs on Him.”

 

Observation:

The horrible reign of Ahaz left deep scars on his kingdom and on his son Hezekiah.  With a father like that, it would have been east to grow bitter.  But bitterness perpetuates the legacy of sin and hinders spiritual growth.  Because Hezekiah trusted God as his Father, he did not succumb to this bitterness.  In fact he went on to become one of Judah’s greatest and most righteous kings. He wasn’t perfect, but he was a man of contrite spirit, humbling himself before the Lord.  Hezekiah knew God had called him and he let God restore him.

 

Application:

Like Hezekiah, I didn’t have a father who honored God and I too found myself in a destructive environment.  This devastating experience robbed me of hope and value.  But God never abandoned me. Despite what seemed like horrible circumstances God was wanting to bring restoration into my life.  And part of that restoration was acknowledging the pain and asking God to help me forgive the one who delivered it.  If I hold onto bitterness it will bring a harmful inheritance to future generations and I will not be fulfilling God’s call on my life. I need to remain humble before the Lord.

 

Prayer:

Father, thank you that you are my restorer; that you never leave me and want me to approach life humble and confident in You.  When faced with pain, help my heart not to become bitter.  You know when and how deep scars have been left on my heart, I trust in you my healer and restorer.   Amen

 

 

 

Hayley Stirling

 

 

Self Destruction

2 Kings 17:7

This disaster came upon the nation of Israel because the people worshiped other gods, sinning against the Lord their God, who had brought them safely out of their slavery in Egypt.

Observation:

The worship of other god’s is a powerful curse to bring upon yourself, it again shows the seriousness of having idols & god’s in place of the Lord our God. Worshiping other god’s can only bring destruction & disaster there can not be any blessings it only produces death.

Application:

Today we have many god’s to worship that takes all of our energy and time. My heavenly Father requires me to have him as my number one priority in everything I do. I need to be on my guard recognising the subtle distractions that could bring the worship of other god’s and idols into my world, television, computers, cars, friends, wealth, sport etc.

Prayer:

Father help me to recognise areas in my life that are not fully given to You. Show me the balances that need to be corrected so that You are the absolute number One in my life. Let me be a person of blessing and favour, let no disaster come my way as I worship the God who gave me His Son as a Saviour.

Amen

Stephen

PLOUGHING for GOOD SEED.

Scripture:

JAMES 3: 17-18 ‘But the wisdom that comes from Heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere and those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness.

Observation:

James is pointing out just how powerful the tongue is and what we say could make or break those we connect with. Enormous damage or enormous good! Blessings or curses come from how we can control ‘the tongue’ but he also goes on to values, wisdom, obedience to God’s ways; not as of the readings today in 2 Kings 17, or 2 Chr. 28., but to live a ‘life of steady goodness’. He then brings in values, character qualities needed to bring the pure wisdom that comes from heaven itself.

Application:

How I thank you Lord for your Holy Spirit and the power of the cross. How I and mankind can so easily be led astray to conform to the crowd and worship false gods and be lawless before you. – BUT the power of Jesus in my Life and the Holy Spirit outworking what could only come from heaven to change my ways into Kingdom ways, that the fruit of the Spirit can rule my life and make me aware when I’m off track.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for placing heavenly wisdom in me, that I may always be pure in heart to plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness for your kingdom.

Lord, today I ask that my attitudes be always in your sight that as I stray, correct and guide me back through your great wisdom that comes from heaven …… that is pure.

Joan B

The Substance of Faith

Scripture:

James 2:14

Dear brothers and sisters, what’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone.

Observation:

Simply testifying to have faith in God doesn’t speak to the person who is in need. A person who is hungry needs to have their need met before they will listen to what I have to say. Jesus healed the people and then they would follow Him to hear what He had to say. His faith had substance, something that people could touch, people need a connecting place in the natural realm before they can connect on a spiritual one. Jesus showed a genuine interest in the people and had much compassion for them. This moved Him to action. Faith is a doing word!

Application:

I can’t help thinking about the monks who live in isolation from the world when I read this chapter in James. These monks live a life of devotion to God but because they aren’t connected to the rest of the community, there’s no avenue for salvation. Similarly my life needs to be empowered by faith in action. Isolating myself and not being moved into action is fruitless. My life needs to speak of my faith through my actions. Where faith leads, action will follow.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for being our example to follow. You are always meeting people’s needs. I desire to be one who is never afraid to engage with people to really listen and to follow through with whatever actions are required. I believe that as I continue to stay connected to you, that my life will overflow with compassion that moves me to action, ready to serve at all times.

Amen.

Tracey Bence

Opening the First Door

Scripture:

2 Chronicles 29: 3

‘In the first month of the first year of his reign, he (Hezekiah) opened the doors of the temple and repaired them.’

Observation:

Hezekiah becomes King of Judah at 25 years of age, and follows Ahaz who had the dubious record of ‘not doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord.’ Hezekiah was different, ‘He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done.’ No doubt there were many first things that he could have undertaken in the spiritual restoration of the people. His powerful first thing though was to open the doors of the temple of the Lord which had been closed, neglected and in disrepair. Without the opening of the doors and the needful repairs there would not have been any subsequent blessing or Godly presence for the people.

Application:

How easy I find it to look for other first things or priorities. There are so many distractions that call for my energy, attention and effort. Opening the door of my heart is always the first thing that God requires of me so that repair work can be carried out. I find that with the busyness and consequences of doing life it is so easy for the doors of my heart to become closed, and with the neglect fall into disrepair. Nothing though of any spiritual value or rebuilding through my life will ever take place if I first don’t allow the doors of my heart to be open and for His renovation and repair to take place. I think this is what Jesus was trying to tell Martha in the New Testament, not to get so caught up in the doing of life that we neglect the being. This needs to be a foundational and starting point in my life every day to open up the doors of my temple and to do the necessary repairing.

Prayer:

Lord I am asking for you to be the repairer of my heart. Forgive me when I find myself trying to do so many other first things which do not produce renewal or restoration in my life. I want the doors of my temple to be open so that you can come and repair and build a long and lasting foundation.

Ken Hooper

X-ray Vision

Scripture: Isaiah 11: 3 – 5 (Living Bible)

His delight will be obedience to the Lord. He will not judge by appearance, false evidence or hearsay. But will defend the poor and the exploited. He will rule against the wicked who oppress them. For he will be clothed with fairness and with truth.

Observation:

The promise of Christ the Messiah coming will be a breath of fresh air. A man who will ultimately lay down his life for even the wicked that they may be saved and who would judge all by what’s in their heart. The one who has ‘ X-ray vision’ and sees those whose hearts expose impurities that cannot be hidden by the ONE who will shed his blood for all.

The heart of the coming Messiah will be pure in God‘s sight and will rule and reign with fairness and truth. He will raise the standard to true judgment and mercy which none will escape.

Application:

Do I have x-ray vision to look into people’s hearts? Do I see what Christ sees? Do I see that the poor and exploited need defending or do I turn a blind eye? Do I look at the outward appearance and make judgment hastily without calculated reason or act in a manner that is ‘unchristian’?

My heart needs to be parallel to Christ’s heart. To see what he sees, to do what he would do and rely on his Holy Spirit to be my guide. What a difference I could make if I have God’s wisdom and understanding and counsel. Christ at work in me – extending His kingdom.

I need to step up to the mark and be counted in His plan.

Prayer:

Lord, Your ‘X-ray vision’ is true & pure and my heart is exposed for you to see and as I allow myself to be transparent to you may I also be a delight to you just as Christ the Messiah is a delight.

May my eyes see what you see and be used to extend your kingdom.

Terry Bugden

Building barricades

Scripture

Isaiah 8: 11 – 14a “The Lord said to me in strongest terms: Do not think like everyone else does. Do not be afraid that some plan conceived behind closed doors will be the end of you. Do not fear anything except the Lord Almighty. He alone is the Holy One. If you fear Him, you need fear nothing else. He will keep you safe”.

 

Observation

In the face of impending danger God calls Isaiah to trust Him. Inspite of what he could see happening around him, inspite of what he was feeling and fearing, God tells him in the strongest way possible to keep focused on Him. The plans and actions of others was irrelevant to Gods plans and so he was to think differently, to live in an opposite spirit to the atmosphere he was living through and simply trust the Lord.

 

Application

It is so easy to fear the conspiracies you believe are being concocted in the backrooms and alleys of your world. We can even create strategies and battle plans to confront and defend ourselves against the possibilities of attack. Before we realise it we have barricaded ourselves within a fortress of mistrust and fear. God is declaring here in the strongest possible way – don’t do there – there is no need to fear what may be happening – trust Me! If you walk in my ways and live life trusting in my ability to protect, guide and provide for you then whom should you fear? Yet so often I can build barricades to fend off possible attacks to find that all of my focus and energy is diverted toward the things I fear may occur – God is calling me to change my focus onto Him and let Him take care of those things as I refocus on living a life of trust in Him.

 

Prayer

Lord forgive me for so easily being distracted from my main purpose – to live a life trusting and walking with you. So often I’m busy building barricades against the purported enemy attacks that may or may not be real. Your Word reminds me that you will deal with those things, my task is to trust you implicitly.

 

 

Jim Jung

The Biggest Feet in the Universe!!

SCRIPTURE:

Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love.

Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!

Micah 7:18 & 19

OBSERVATION:

Because of His incomparable compassion, God will “hurl all our sins into the depths of the sea.” This is a beautiful picture of complete forgiveness for His redeemed. There is no god like our God- He is matchless! Micah’s prophetic word speaks of the humanity of Jesus revealing the compassion and truth of God personified.

APPLICATION:

Jesus Christ paid the price for my forgiveness. His death on the cross means that no sin that I have ever committed is too big to be swallowed up by His forgiveness. He promises to tread our sins underfoot- and He’s got the biggest feet in the entire universe!! Forgiveness is the cornerstone of relationship. Because my Father God desires a relationship with me, he is both willing and able to forgive me of any sin in my life. How wondrous is His love for me!!

PRAYER:

Thanks God for again revealing your matchless power! That you desire a complete & unhindered relationship with me still amazes me! Help me not to think I can or need to keep any sin hidden from you. Thank you for your compassion, mercy, your unfailing love and your amazing grace! amen

Hayley Stirling

"The Certainty of Gods Promise"

Scripture

Hebrews 6 v 13-14

"When God made His promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for Him to swear by, He swore by Himself, saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants."

And so after waiting patiently, Abraham recieved what was promised."

Observation

This passage takes us back to the time God made a promise to Abraham, that He would be blessed with many descendants. It also speaks of the timing of Gods promise to Abraham, that it didn't happen right away, but Abraham waited patiently, and that God in His own timing fullfilled His promise and blessed Abraham.

Application

God has promises for me too. Often I want to see them come to pass right away though, in my timing, when it suits me. I need to realise that not only are Gods plans faultless and perfect, but so is His timing. At the end of the day God is the one certainty anyway. When all else fails - He remains.

Prayer

God I trust that you have everything under control. Your plans are far higher than mine, and your timing is PERFECT. Help me to be patient, just as Abraham was patient. Help me not to rush ahead, but to stay in step with you. You are my portion, You are my strength, You are my supply. I trust in You.

James Williams

RIGHT FROM WRONG

MICAH 3:8

‘…BUT AS FOR ME, I AM FILLED WITH POWER and THE SPRIT OF THE LORD, I AM FILLED WITH JUSTICE and MIGHT, FEARLESSLY POINTING OUT ISRAEL’S SIN and REBELLION’ (NLT)

The Lord sent Micah the prophet to speak to His people from Samaria and Jerusalem, on judgment for the way they were living their lives: the sin of idol worship, injustice, listening to false prophets, not taking care of the needy… and then he spoke to the leaders that ‘you are supposed to know right from wrong, but….’ Then as God’s spokesman he declared ‘I am filled with power and the Spirit of the Lord, I am filled with justice and might…’

How eternal is God’s word? How easy is it to ‘flow with the crowd’, do what the neighbor does? My conviction this week was going to the movies, ‘cos it was a night out, not really knowing what the movie was about! This wasn’t a major problem but it made me stop and take check. Do I stop and listen to God’s direction every step the way I should or just invite the Him in to areas I chose ? We (I) try to do all the right things but how subjected to society do we (I) get? BUT like Micah we too are filled with power and the Spirit of the Lord, filled with justice and might and therefore can see and discern sin and rebellion’, right and wrong. How vital it is to listen to the Lord’s voice daily, hourly, to direct our path.

Lord, draw me even closer to you in these days with the pace of life increasing it is even more important to walk hand in hand with you. You have given us such an amazing inheritance to empower us to go and be a effective in the community, to friends , family… not a compromise, not a shadow, not be just one of a group. Help me to stand for you alone Lord and always remember in my daily walk: W.W.J.D. (What would Jesus do)

Joan Bognuda

DILIGENT AND DELICIOUS

 

Scripture:

Hosea 9:10—“ When I found Israel it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your fathers it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree.  But when they came to Baal Peor, they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved.”

 

Observation:

A: Blessings. The exodus of Israel from Egypt was a unique covenant relationship with God . Enslaved for 400 years, and having no possessions at all, they were rescued by a compassionate God. They lacked nothing in the desert for 40 years as they were prepared for “the promised land.”  God gave them leadership, the Law and the promises of abundant blessings. (The curses were also recorded.) They chose Him, of course! They tasted the delicacies on entry to their new land and it was good.

B: Curses.  Other nations in Gods’ Law were unholy; through intermarriages, and consecration to idol worship of foreign gods, Israel gradually rejected worship to Creator God. They engaged in evil, contrary to the Law, being oblivious to the imminent judgment of God for their sin.

 

 

Application:

It seems a long time ago when God rescued me from my desert where there were no provision or promise. The excitement of salvation, abundant living, eternity all seemed far away from my course. That was the promise of Jesus. It was difficult to accept it all, but the truth of the word and infilling of Holy Spirit a few months later was only the start of my covenant relationship with my new heavenly Father. Jesus was right; I had a future and purpose for my life, and it was eternal. The hunger for truth motivated me to change to His ways, but it was line upon line, precept upon precept. No quick fix for me!

 

Prayer:

 Father, only You know of my gratitude for Your grace when Jesus saved my life and I began a covenant relationship with You, fully paid up, and cleansed in His blood, and Spirit-filled. My focus is to be diligent in seeking your ways and truths, so grant me the ability to be Holy Spirit wise and discern schemes that are set against me to bring me to dishonouring You. My heart enjoys the delicacies of life that You provide for me, so help keep my heart diligent to your presence in my life.

 

 

 

Ps Lyal Bognuda

Temptation & Suffering

Heb 2:18

 

Scripture:

Since He himself has gone through suffering & temptation, He is able to help us when we are being tempted.

 

Observation:

What an amazing God that gave us His son and modelled for us a life style.  There is nothing that we are going through that Jesus can not relate too.  The choices that face us the ability to be wise, choosing right & wrong, having the strength to turn away from the lusts of the flesh.  I too am capable of making right choices when situations present themselves.

 

Application:

Calling upon the name of Jesus when I feel weak is my weapon.  As Jesus knows my every struggle and can relate to every temptation, I must call upon Him and He is the one who found victory over every temptation.  If Jesus can have victory then through His power and strength, so can I.

 

Prayer:

Father as I face my day help me call upon the name of Jesus.  In times where I feel weak, when wrong attitudes arise, when I want to be selfish with my time remind me to call upon the strength of Jesus.  That I may be an honourable man in everything I do as I step into the help & Strength of Jesus.

Amen

 

Stephen Hutchison

 

A Sense of Urgency

Scripture:  Hebrews 1:3 “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command.  When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honour at the right hand of the majesty of God in heaven.”

 

Observation:  Jesus’ Job description is pretty amazing:

·        Radiate God’s glory

·        Express the character of God

·        Keep the whole universe running by the power of your command

·        Cleanse humanity from their sins.

·        Then, have a seat!!

It’s as if Jesus couldn’t possibly rest until His task on earth was done – as if the pinnacle of His attainments, the height of His achievements, was to cleanse us from our sins.  It was the driving force in His life, His greatest desire.  Radiating God’s glory wasn’t enough for Him.  Being the expression of God’s character wasn’t enough for Him.  Sustaining the universe wasn’t enough for Him!! No.  He couldn’t rest until the task of cleansing us from our sins was completed.  He couldn’t rest until He had made the way clear for humanity to be restored to the Father through His own sacrifice.  He couldn’t rest until He was able to declare from the cross: “It is finished!!!”  Then, & only then, would He return to Heaven, to sit in His rightful place at the Father’s right hand. 

 

Application:  Since I surrendered my life to Jesus, His sacrifice for me has always held immense significance – life & death significance.  But I’ve never really thought of the significance it held for Jesus!  I know that it was significant for the Father – He so loved the world that he gave His Son.  I know the Son, in love & obedience, chose to give Himself.  But the thing that strikes me here is that the Sustainer of my world & beyond couldn’t rest until the job was done!!  Here was a sense of urgency.  A sense of the imperative!  He could have chosen to scrap the whole world & start again – instead He chose to die for me as though there wasn’t a choice – it was too important to Him to consider not doing it!  My response to such love?  Anything I can do in response seems so inadequate – but what I can do is what He has asked me to do -  live with His sense of urgency to share His love with those around me.  Live with His sense of the imperative to share the transforming power of the Gospel that others might experience for themselves the freedom of being cleansed from their sins!!! 

 

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, thankyou that you SO loved the world that you gave your only Son.  But thankyou, Jesus, that the task of cleansing me from my sins was so important to you that you couldn’t rest until it was completed.  Help me to have a similar sense of urgency to share your sacrifice with others.  I know the time is short.

 

In Jesus’ name

 

Amen

 

 

Sue Otto