I was chatting with a neighbor the other day about Springtime and plants…and yes, we were social distancing! She sells wholesale plants to greenhouses in Illinois and was telling me that everyone was wanting to grow a garden this year. Which I can really appreciate the desire to grow your own food in these uncertain times. There’s something special about planting seed and watching the tiny plants emerge from the soil, and then harvesting the produce to feed your family. Springtime is a season of hope and renewal and a time to see God’s creative power vividly at work. To quote Psalms, “He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth; He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from His storehouses. He waters the mountains from His upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of His work. He makes grass grow for the cattle and plants for man to cultivate – bringing forth food from the earth.” Spring is a time that the Lord demonstrates just how much He cares for us.
Tag: daily encouraging devotions
Romans 10:13 “For, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
The notion of calling on the name of the Lord is seen many times throughout the Bible. Psalm 105:1 says, “Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name.” On the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:21), Peter quoted Joel 2:32 when he said, “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But while there is promise for all in the gift of salvation…the responsibility still remains with us to make the initial move towards God. It’s called free will…for we have to choose to either do God’s will or our own. Jesus talked about this in John 7:17 as He was teaching in the Temple courts, “If anyone chooses to do God’s will…” The promise of salvation is there for anyone to take advantage of, but it requires a decision…a choice to seek God and call upon His name.
Micah 2:13 ” One Who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their King will pass through before them, the Lord at their head.”
In anything you do today…Jesus goes before you. In this verse of the Old Testament, the usage of the Hebrew word for “head” in the phrase, “the Lord at their head”, was carried forward into the New Testament and applied to Jesus. He spoke of this in Luke 20:17 when He referred to Himself as,”the stone the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” And in Ephesians 2:20, Jesus is called the Chief cornerstone…the Head, and the One Who goes before us. Whatever barrier is holding you back today from being everything God desires for you…know that the Lord Jesus Christ has already gone before you…breaking open the way. Whatever the obstacle is that’s controlling you right now during this pandemic…fear, anxiety, doubt, anger, hopelessness…give it to the Lord and walk free.
Ephesians 1:22-23 ” And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills everything in every way.”
In the wake of this pandemic of the COVID 19 Virus, the idea of these verses take on heightened meaning for us today. This concept of the resurrected Jesus having supreme rule over everything was voiced by Him in Matthew 28:18, when He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” That means it’s a done deal…everything, (which includes the Corona Virus), is under Jesus’ power and authority. So just as He is the head of the Body of Christ – the Church- Jesus is the head…the Supreme Ruler over COVID 19, and these verses go on to tell us that God placed it under His feet…a place of utter submission and surrender.
Luke 6: 47-48 ” I will show you what he is like who comes to Me and hears My Words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.”
How can I apply what Jesus was teaching the crowd in these verses? The first thing comes from James 1:22, “Don’t merely listen to the Word…do what it says.” For I know I can be in my Bible daily, but if I don’t take what I’ve learned and make it part of my life, what have I gained? Secondly, I know my journey as a Christian isn’t going to be all goodness and light…sometimes it will involve digging down deep to the depths of my soul and going into areas of my life that are painful in order to build on God’s solid foundation. Finally, when the storms of life hit, I will with God’s help stand firm and not be shaken by the outside world…all the while being reminded of Psalm 62:2, “He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”
Joshua 1:5 ” No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
If I’ve discovered anything the past few months during this pandemic…it’s that everybody has an opinion, a view point, or a determination…whether it’s good, bad, or indifferent. So who do we listen to? In this Scripture, the Lord was reminding Joshua that just as He was with Moses, the Lord would be with him…that as Moses listened to the Voice of Truth, so Joshua needed to follow it also. But what do we do when all these worldly voices are seeking to drown out the Voice of Truth? We have to choose to believe God, not the opposing voices that are filling our minds and the air waves. For there is only one Voice of Truth…one honest and correct way to go.
Jeremiah 29:11 ” For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
God’s intent…His plan and purpose for each one of us, is to give us hope and a eternal future with Him. Now the entire Chapter of Job is about a man suffering unspeakable losses, but we surprisingly find this encouraging word in Job 8:7, “Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.” Right now you may be suffering…out of work, low on money, and depressed about what the future holds. But realize this, God is aware and understands your situation completely…and His intention for you is only good. For your future is securely in His hands, and your future is full of hope.
Titus 2: 11-12 ” For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”
Think soberly about this…it’s only by the grace of God that the pandemic has passed over you, your family and/or friends. Now, God’s spiritual blessings should never be taken for granted…but have we allowed ourselves to become impassive and unappreciative towards His wondrous grace… instead riveted on our own fears, anxiety, or frustrations? We should be rejoicing in the grace of God…ever thankful that we are covered in His great love, and showered with His mercy and glorious favor.
Hosea 10:12 ” Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes and showers righteousness on you.”
The Corona Virus may have halted a lot, but one thing it couldn’t stop was Spring planting season here in Illinois. The farmers have been busy preparing their fields to then sow corn and soybeans in neat straight rows for as far as the eye can see. They couldn’t allow themselves to become complacent and apathetic while they sat in self isolation…not when the soil was telling them, “Now is the time!” But every farmer knows you can’t plant until you first plow…you can’t sow until you first break up the Winter-hardened soil. So maybe Spring is telling us all, “Now is the time” we break up our unplowed ground that has sat fallow all these weeks of isolation…and plant some seed for the Lord.
“Follow Me.”
There were many times throughout the Gospels Jesus repeated these words, “Follow Me.” At times it was to call specific people such as Peter and Andrew, or Phillip and Matthew. There were other times, when people approached Him, announcing they were going to “follow Him”,…some with good intentions, some not so much. And then there was the crowds that only occasionally followed Him…but they were most times merely looking for dinner and a show. So what does it really mean to “Follow Me.” It starts with what is called believing trust…I believe that Jesus died for my sins and thus I will trust in Him. And as I trust in Him, I grow more and more like in Him everyday, following His example as how I should live. Finally, “Follow Me” grows into a life-long relationship with Jesus…a fellowship of faith and life… filled with love, peace, and hope.
Safetypinlove 