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Priceless

Priceless

Isaiah 55:1-4   “Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink — even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk — it’s all free! 2 Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen, and I will tell you where to get food that is good for the soul! 3 “Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, for the life of your soul is at stake. I am ready to make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the mercies and unfailing love that I promised to David. (NLT)

Isaiah 55 is a place to go for great encouragement. The promises of God are found in this chapter. The promises of Salvation are found here; all throughout the Bible are the paths that point to Christ, here is such a clear path and promise of God. There are some things that must be understood deep within us; such as that question, or thirst that is described here. That desire that wells up inside us, is a gift of God. That longing for more, that longing for God, is placed within our souls. We can deny it, we can harden our heart toward it, but we will pay eternally for that decision. Isaiah 55 points to the mercy, grace, and sovereignty of God.

Do you see those around you that are living for the world, and seemingly prospering in all their efforts? They are in constant pursuit of something, they are thirsty and trying to fill that thirst with worldly ways; they are in constant pursuit, yet never satisfied. They are seemingly happy on the outside, but their souls are hollow and hard. They are hardened to the Word of God. Only through God’s mercy is that hardened soul softened; they see the possibility of their thirst satisfied in Him; it is in that critical moment eternity can be defined. A humble, repentant heart finds the Living Water that quenches. Christ speaks of it again in the book of Revelation, upon his return; 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Don’t be fooled by the tactics of your enemy that tempt you with all the worldly pleasures and pursuits. You feel as though what you are longing for will be found in the next possession, the next toy, the next achievement by worldly standards. You measure your success by the list of achievements, and none of them will go with you into eternity. Matthew Henry summarized it, “The world comes short of our expectations; we promise ourselves, at least, water in it, and we are disappointed; but Christ outdoes our expectations. We come to him, and we find wine and milk. The gifts offered to us are such as no price can be set upon.” I have heard said. You have never seen a hertz with a U-haul  Focusing on what lies ahead in eternity, will satisfy you temporally. Your time here is short, but your focus and decisions will last a lifetime.

 
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Posted by on August 20, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Peace in an out of control world

Peace in an out of control world

Romans 11:33-36    Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?” 35 “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?” 36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Yesterday I had a great conversation with another contractor who uses his business as a ministry. We stood out in the parking lot and shared our faith. He asked what one word I would use to encourage someone; His one word was obey, my one word was peace. All throughout the Bible we are shown and must come to understand the Sovereignty of God. Sovereignty is simply defined as a supreme power; God is the definition of THE supreme power. When you read the Bible as a whole, you come to understand the complexity of God’s plan; but at the same time the centrality and simplicity of His plan to offer Salvation to all, and to draw all to Him for eternal paradise. In that understanding comes the peace that my one word describes.

Romans 11 is the apostle Paul’s detailed description of how Israel fits into God’s ultimate plan to save all the world. Paul goes into detail of God continues to offer grace to His beloved people time and time again; His plans even come to use their rebellion to offer Salvation to the rest of the world. Everything that Israel has ever done, and will ever do, all falls under the Sovereignty of God’s design. He either designed it, or allowed it, but it all will work for his purpose. Our simple minds cannot grasp a speck of the mind of God. But when we come to grasp that understanding, their is a release of our burdens to Him; for we know that He is in control of it ALL.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. This passage is one that we as Christians must lean on in difficult situations in life. This is Sovereignty defined; “all things word together”; we cannot understand how the difficult situations in life can possible be for our, or work out for our good. We only see the present tumults or pain in them; we don’t see past them. But with the heart of understanding comes the peace in them. He has a purpose “for good to those who love God” in every situation in our lives. If you pursue Him with all your heart, He will open your eyes to that Peace I am trying to describe.

 
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Posted by on July 10, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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