Nothing makes us more uncertain and insecure than not being sure we are in the will of God. And nothing is more encouraging than knowing for sure that we are.
From 1 John 2:17: “And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God abide forever.”
True liberty is not the power to live as we please, but to live as we ought.
From 2 Peter 3:10-13: “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be destroyed with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and destroyed and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with His promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.
Arthur Walkington (A. W.) Pink (1886-1952) was an English Bible teacher and Christian writer. Following his death, many of his writings were well-received by readers. This turnabout established him as an influential evangelical author.
From 1 Peter 2:25: “For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
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Like sheep, we wander astray
Turning away from our Lord
Feeling harassed and helpless
Sheep lost, by our own accord
God lays a new cornerstone
Our Good Shepherd, Holy Son
Calling us, hearing His voice
His work will never be done
Leading us, on this right path
Following His voice, love flows
With Him, we shall never want
Restoring souls, we all grow
Good Shepherd, loving His sheep
Bringing comfort, rod and staff
Green pastures, nourishing us
Still waters, on our behalf
Jesus, loving Good Shepherd
Unblemished, Lamb of God casts
Body and blood on that Cross
Risen Savior, His hope lasts
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From Christian author, W. Phillip Keller: “It takes some of us a lifetime to learn that Christ, our Good Shepherd, knows exactly what He is doing with us.”
Originally published May, 2020.
The only one qualified to throw a stone . . . didn’t.
From John 8:4-7: “They said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do You say?’ They said this to test Him, so that they might have some charge to bring against Him. Jesus bent down and wrote with His finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, ‘Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.'”
From John 10:9-10: “I am the gate. Whoever enters by Me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
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Triumphantly
Jesus enters a joyous city
Jerusalem sings
Praising His name . . . Hosanna!
Witnessing
Emotional betrayal
Denying Christ
Then a rooster crows
Watching
Stunning procession fills the streets
Mocking with scorn
Would-be king, carrying our Cross
Hopes
Dashed by cruel Roman justice
Absent of sin
Son of Man, never to walk free
Numbness
With tears, seeing and hearing
Experiencing anguish
Horror at a blood-stained Cross
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Silence
Covering the land, Father weeps
Messiah suffers
Many rejecting our Holy God
Hearing
Good News on Easter morning
Our Savior
Defeating sin and death
Empty
Dark tomb proclaims God’s plan
Jesus Christ
Risen! Reigning forevermore
Connecting
Dots between manger and Cross
Our Father
Love for us never wanes
Lingering
In the shadow of a criminal’s cross
Singing Alleluia!
To lasting, true meaning of the Cross
Glory
Residing forever in the Cross
Good Shepherd
Caring for His precious flock
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From Ephesians 2:8-10: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is a gift of God–not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.”
Originally published April, 2020.
In the human family, there are various kinds of birth experiences. But in God’s family, everybody begins the same way. We are all adopted. We all have the same Father. We all come to him the same way–through His Son, Jesus Christ.
From Ephesians 1:5-6: “He destined us for adoption as His children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace that He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”
Jesus is saying that the great care of the life is to put the relationship to God first, and everything else second.
From Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher. Following his death from an illness while in Egypt during World War I, his wife took on the task of transcribing the detailed notes she had written from his lectures and sermons. Gertrude Hobbs Chambers’ efforts resulted in the publication in 1924 of MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST. I frequently read from this devotional, and it has greatly deepened my faith and understanding of God’s Word.
David praises the greatness of God through Scripture found in Psalm 145, and these verses inspire this poem.
Each day life seems too normal
Monotonous and mundane
Beautiful bundle arrives
Hallmarks of our Lord’s domain
Blessing us each precious day
Spontaneous surprises
Praising our Father’s great name
Goodness comes in all sizes
Reaching depths of every sea
Loving each generation
Eclipsing highest heavens
Honoring God’s creation
Awesome and vast deeds come forth
Witnessing God’s mighty acts
Glorious splendor singing
Filling what life truly lacks
God’s everlasting kingdom
Harvesting abundant gifts
Faithful words stir greatest feats
Balancing life’s slips and shifts
Singing of God’s righteousness
Showering with compassion
Tasting His Holy goodness
Remembering His passion
Blessing His name forever
Amen
From Psalm 145:8: “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
Originally published June, 2020.
From Psalm 107:28: “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out from their distress.”
Filled with hunger and thirst
Delivering mercy’s love
His wonderful works breathe
Living bread from God above
Bowed down under sin’s weight
Seeing all darkness and gloom
Chains of bondage hold tight
Witnessing Lord’s empty tomb
Stirred with faith’s reborn strength
Grasping Christ’s confident hand
Mighty waters run free
Rising above fertile lands
Transformed trust in God’s Word
Fixing each eye upon light
Vision’s ultimate hope
Living within Shepherd’s sight
Delivered from troubles
Receiving His steadfast love
Goodness reigns forever
Giving thanks to God above
From Psalm 107:31: “Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wonderful works to humankind.”
From the words of celebrated German-born writer, Anne Frank: “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”
Gathering His flock
World hindered with needs
Christ’s teachings share grace
Unselfish love’s deeds
Following God’s Word
Single, perfect Lamb
Christ’s enduring light
Blessed telegram
Improving this world
Struggles helped along
Christ’s example leads
Actions always strong
Answering with hope
Aid for neighbors met
Christ encourages
Faith’s righteous mindset
Caring for others
Mercy walks ahead
Christ bringing comfort
Witness daily bread
From Matthew 25:31-36: “When the Son of Man comes in His glory and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and He will put the sheep at His right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at His right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’”
Big Sky Buckeye 