Simple Thoughts On Promises

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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 1:1)

There's promise of life in Christ Jesus. Yes, eternal life is promised through him who said, "God is not the God of the dead but of the living." And in this context Jesus was teaching the Sadducees about the resurrection. He said, "At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. But about the resurrection of the dead - have you not read what God said to you, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob' ? He is not the God of the dead but of the living." (Matthew 22:30-32)
Abraham, Isaac & Jacob, though they had died physically when their time on earth was up, they were living eternally, according to these words of Jesus.

Jesus affirmed that again when he spoke to Martha, Lazarus sister. He said,
"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die......" (John 11:25, 26)

If fact, in the gospel of John, Jesus repeatedly spoke of the promise of eternal life that comes through believing in him.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." (John 3:36)

"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. (John 5:24)

For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40)

If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior and are living for him, this promise of eternal life will come true in your lives sooner or later. How blessed and glorious will that day be!
Here's a great verse of exhortation to all of us who have put our trust in Jesus.
Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. (Jude 1:21)
Praise the Lord.

 

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He also says, "In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end." (Hebrews 1:10-12)

The unchanging nature of God is very wonderfully portrayed here by the author of Hebrews. God remains the same even though his creations come into being and then disappear. Many are they who have mouthed sarcasm at the Eternal One but eventually have fulfilled what the Bible says about their actual state.
".....for dust you are and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:19)

The Apostle Paul rightly describes the unmatchable qualities of this mighty God when he writes to Timothy.
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17)

Yes, he is the only God & he is eternal & immortal, whether anyone believes it or not. Sadly, there are many who live rebelliously to the divine authority and have to endure eternal punishment for their folly. Many argue about this matter, but the Bible says,
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

And to them who believe in this only eternal and unchanging and immortal God, he has promised the greatest blessing thorugh his son Jesus Christ--ETERNAL LIFE. Praise the Lord.

 

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The days of the blameless are known to the LORD, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty. (Psalm 37:18,19)

One thing that the Lord delights in is when he sees that we are living a blameless life. In the Old Testament, we read the Israelites being exhorted to live a blameless life.
You must be blameless before the LORD your God. (Deuteronomy 18:13)

But is it really possible for one to be found blameless in the presence of a pure & holy God? Perhaps difficult, but this is what we read about some saints of old.
Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. (Genesis 6:9)
In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. (Job 1:1)

God demands blamelessness in our lives. It is not optional. That's what he demanded from Abraham several thousand years back.
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty ; walk before me and be blameless. (Genesis 17:1)

There are blessings innumerable in the Word of God for those who live a blameless life serving the living God. Here are a few...
The days of the blameless are known to the LORD, and their inheritance will endure forever. (Psalm 37:18)
Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace. (Psalm 37:37)
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. (Psalm 84:11)
He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, (Proverbs 2:7)

Shall we then take a decision today as the Psalmist did long back?
I will be careful to lead a blameless life......I will walk in my house with blameless heart. (Psalm 101:2)

Remember....He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless. (Proverbs 2:7)

God bless you.

 

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Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:27,28)

We should if not everyday, ask ourselves often, this very pertinent question...
Are we waiting for the coming of the Lord?

After Jesus’ resurrection, as his disciples watched him ascend to heaven, two angels asked: "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11)

Jesus himself told his disciples...
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:3)

Dear friend, Jesus is coming back and that too very soon...moreover he is coming unexpectedly. Are you ready to meet him? He has this to say to you today...
"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.
For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:34-36)

"...he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." This promise will be fulfilled soon. Praise the Lord.

 

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Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? (James 2:5)

Your bank balance doesn't look healthy! It's a matter of perpetual concern! So what's to be done?

Here's something that the Lord Almighty wants you to remember. He says,
As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Joshua 1:5)
Be strong and courageous.... (Joshua 1:6)
Be strong and very courageous....(Joshua 1:7)
Do not let this Book of the Law (for you and me- The Word of God) depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:8)
Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

Can you believe that? The God who provided for the Israelites in the wilderness is still the same.
The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan. (Exodus 16:35)
The manna stopped the day after they ate the food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan. (Joshua 5:12)

Times have changed but the Lord Almighty is just the same, caring and providing for those who trust in him. He is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider.

In times of doubt and unbelief, latch on to the Lord's promises.
He will never leave you nor forsake you. Some of what you need, he will provide through natural means and some supernaturally.
Praise the Lord.

 

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The Lord said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you." (Joshua 10:8)

Marching against the 5 Amorite kings to save the Gibeonites, Joshua was given this promise by God. After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took the enemy by surprise.
The Lord threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in a great victory at Gibeon. As they fled before Israel, the Lord hurled large hailstones down on them from the sky, and more of them died from the hailstones than were killed by the swords of the Israelites. On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: "O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon." So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.

Not only to Joshua, God gives you a promise this day, that the satanic forces that are troubling you will not be able to withstand you.

Wear the full armour of God and resist the devil and he will flee from you. Extinguish all his fiery darts with the shield of faith that God has given you. War against the evil forces with the "Sword of the Spirit- The Word of God" and the victory will be yours. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. God bless you.

 

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Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in." (Joshua 6:1-5)

Your problem has an unique solution. There are several things that we have to look into when we encounter problems that are unusual. Here was a situation where God provided a specific solution to a problem that Joshua encountered.

First things first, our relationship with God must be such that He be willing to give us the strategy of how to go about getting the deliverance. If we are not living close to him and there is sin, often the deliverance is delayed even though we pray. Not only with God, our relationship with people should also be right. When Daniel got a deliverance from the lions, this is what he said,
My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king." (Daniel 6:22)... Innocent in God's sight and not doing wrong to others.

The next step is prayer and when prayer touches the heart of God, he will either deliver us from the problem or give us a strategy to overcome the situation. Acting upon God's strategy with faith is the final step and when one does that, the miracle happens.

Not only with this situation that Joshua encountered, but with every problem that the Israelites encountered in the wilderness, God gave Moses & Joshua unique strategies to overcome the situation. Be it at the Red Sea, be it at Marah, be it at Rephidim, be it in the case of lack of food or water, be it at the Jordan and so many other places, God did a miracle when Moses & Joshua prayed and then acted with faith obeying God's counsel.

One thing that one should not do when all the other things have to be done is MURMURING, for that invites disaster. May God bless you and deliver you from the problem that you are encountering these days.

 

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Like birds hovering overhead, the LORD Almighty will shield Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver it, he will 'pass over' it and will rescue it." (Isaiah 31:5)

God is your shield against the attacks of satan. The blood of Jesus is your protection. The enemy fears the blood of Jesus. It is oppressive and destructive to them. Every day, in prayer you must cover yourself, your family and everything that God has given you with the blood of Jesus.

Have you seen helicopters sent for protection of places against terrorists? They hover around the area repeatedly to spot the offenders to destroy them and protect the innocent.

In Psalm 7, the psalmist sings:
My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart. (Psalm 7:10)

Do you believe that God is your shield?
The Psalmist was sure of it, so he says,
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:2)

God is watching over you and your family continuously because you have made him your refuge by accepting his only son Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
The Bible says,
He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless. (Proverbs 2:7)

Yes...If your walk is blameless, he is a shield for you and he holds victory in store for you. The satanic forces that come against you will continually be defeated. Praise the Lord.

 

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For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Ever wondered why Jesus, after the 40 day fast, was not supplied with a sumptuous meal by angels or why he didn't turn stone to bread as the devil asked him to. He could have done it but he didn't.

Ever wondered why Jesus, who fed 5000 and more people had to cry out on the cross, "I thirst" but no angels brought him any water or why he didn't choose to do a miracle and have his thirst quenched.

Ever wondered why Jesus, who had the angelic host for his help, did not choose to ask the Father for the same when he was being caught in the garden of Gethsamane.

The above verse explains it all. For your sake and my sake, he chose to keep aside, for a while, his liberty as Son of God to do as he pleased. That's what the Apostle Paul writes to the Philippians.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:5-8)

Yes, for your sake and my sake, he chose to become poor, so that we through his poverty might become rich. Rich spiritually and inherit the eternal glorious riches that are promised to everyone who accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior and live a life obeying the Word of God. God bless you.

 

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A blue moon refers to the second full moon that occurs in any calendar month. There are 41 months that have two full moons in every century. 'Once in a blue moon' means once every two-and-a-half years. A blue moon was originally cited as something that was impossible; only later did it come to mean unlikely. The year 2009 ended in a "Blue Moon". December 2009 had two full moons; the first on Decebmer 2nd and the second full moon was seen on December 31. Unusual event, yet it did happen.

The Bible speaks of unusual events too. Things that are slated to happen; but things that most of the people who live in the world do not believe in. Here's such an event that speaks of the moon itself.
The prophet Joel prophesied,
The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. (Joel 2:31)

Jesus himself said,
"But in those days, following that distress, "'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' "At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens. (Mark 13:24-27)

These verses speak of the second coming of Jesus Christ. God's judgement is coming upon this world and it's inhabitants. Only those who have placed their trust in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, will escape these judgements.
Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord? If not, you must do it without any delay. If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, live a life that is pleasing to him at all times. God bless you.

 

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Dr. Johnson's Devotionals From The Word Of God- 2

The Lyrebird is one of the Australian birds, notable for their superb ability to mimic natural and artificial sounds from their surroundings. This bird is not only beautiful but has a naturally strange characteristic. It mimics the calls of other birds, sounds of chainsaws, camera shutters, cars, babies crying, dogs and many other noises. It is an excellent imitator. This clever Bird is one of the most impressive and funny birds in nature. A wonderful creation from the Master Creator.

Christians are also called to be imitators.
The Apostle Paul exhorts the believer's in Ephesus saying,
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1, 2)

Paul also commends the believers in Thessalonica for doing so.
You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. (1 Thessalonians 1:6, 7)

Perhaps we should ask ourselves this pertinent question?
Are we imitators of Christ?
Are we a model for other Christians, especially new believers to watch and follow?

If we are, then we are truly fulfilling God's plan and purpose for our lives. If we are not, we must know that God desires much more than mere lip service. God bless.

 

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Dr. Johnson's Devotionals From The Word Of God- 3

The blue whale is the largest animal ever known to have existed. They can be up to 100 feet long and weigh up to 200 tons. They subsist mainly on a diet composed of tiny shrimplike animals called krill. Some blue whales consume up to 3-4 tons of krill per day. Its heart is the size of a small car, and its largest blood vessels are wide enough for an adult to swim through. Their tongues can weigh as much as an elephant. Blue whale calves are born after a year long growth in its mother's womb and weigh 2.5-3 tons and are 20-25 feet long at birth. Blue whales live up to 80- 90 years.

The blue whale and all sea creatures were created on the 5th day of creation according to the Bible.
And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:20, 21)

In fact, the first blessing pronounced by God, that we read of in the Bible was on sea creatures and birds.
God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." (Genesis 1:22)

When we think of the mammoth proportions of this largest animal, the blue whale, we cannot ignore the magnanimity of it's Creator.
The Psalmist sang,
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? (Psalm 8:4)

Yes, God cares for humanity; more than he cares for his other creations, however mighty they be. Praise the Lord.

 

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Dr. Johnson's Devotionals From The Word Of God- 4

Ever heard of the Red Devil? No, it's not the color of Satan when he's angry. It's the English translation of a Spanish word- Diablo Rojo, which is the name given to the Humboldt Squid or Jumbo Squid. It is a large, predatory squid found in the waters of the Humboldt Current in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Their tentacles bear suckers lined with sharp teeth with which they grasp prey and drag it towards a large, sharp beak. They are known to be very aggressive and attack divers who venture too close. Their colouring and aggressive reputation has earned them the nickname 'diablos rojos' (red devils). Fishermen have to be very careful while dealing with them.

Even if you are unaware of the 'red devil', it's not a big matter, but Jesus wants every Christian to be aware of the devil(Satan), because he is always trying to bring misery to the believer.

Jesus spoke of him saying,
He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44)

The Apostle Peter warns believers:
...Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

So what must we do? Peter exhorts believers in this manner:
Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. (1 Peter 5:9, 10)

Shall we say an Amen to that?

 

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Dr. Johnson's Devotionals From The Word Of God- 5

Talking in millions and billions.....The average human brain has about 100 billion nerve cells. The average human heart will beat 40 million times a year. Each human lung contains about 600 million alveoli. There are 4 to 6 million red blood cells per cubic millimeter of blood. Three hundred million cells die in the human body every minute. Every day an adult body produces 300 billion new cells. On average the normal eye blinks 6.25 million times a year.

No wonder that the Psalmist David sang,
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:14)

He didn't have the detailed data that we have now, but he knew that his being was an astounding work of the Master Creator.

The Psalmist had more to say,
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:15, 16)

The Omnipotence, Omniscience & Omnipresence of God Almighty can be experienced by everyone who is willing to humble themselves, for to such he wills to reveal himself, be he a pundit or be he illiterate.

How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth! (Psalm 47:2)
Praise the Lord.

 

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Dr. Johnson's Devotionals From The Word Of God- 6

The human tongue can detect five basic taste components: sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami. The last one is not a well known taste I guess. It means savoriness. Umami comes from the Japanese language meaning "flavor" or "taste". It describes the flavor common to savory products such as meat, cheese, and mushrooms. The tongue has several distinct physical features, but the Bible also speaks in length about it's spiritual power. Here are a couple of verses that speak of the power of the tongue.

The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. (Proverbs 15:4)

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21)

The Bible speaks of several kinds of tongues. Boastful tongue, deceitful tongue, lying tongue, smooth tongue, perverse tongue, malicious tongue, sly tongue, tongue of the crafty, flattering tongue, tongue that plots destruction, tongue that brings healing, tongue of the wise, tongue of the righteous, tongue that speaks what is just and several others.

The Apostle James wrote in length regarding its destructive power.
Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
(James 3:5-8)

If our tongue brings healing to others it is a tree of life, otherwise as the Apostle James puts it...the tongue is a fire, a world of evil, restless evil, full of deadly poison......
Does our tongue bring healing to others or is it destructive? is a question we should ask ourselves.

Let's take this advice that the Bible gives us and remember it always,
Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. (1 Peter 3:10)

 

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Dr. Johnson's Devotionals From The Word Of God- 7

Camels can tolerate the worst of desert climates. They can survive without food and water for long periods of time. This wonderful ability stems from their body being able to store fat in their humps and water in the lining of their stomachs. They can drink 100 litres of water within 10 minutes for future use. They have double rows of long, curled eyelashes to protect their eyes from blowing sand. They can close their slit nostrils by contraction of the circular muscle during sandstorms. They consume anything from thorny shrubs to desert thistles. The broad, padded toes are insulated to avoid the desert sand's heat. Their strong, flexible web of the toes prevent them from sinking into the sand. No wonder they are called "ships of the desert."

God sustains this amazing creature in the worst of living conditions. He did sustain his chosen ones (the Israelites) too in the vast deserts as they traveled from Egypt to Canaan under the leadership of Moses & Joshua long ago.

We read of this in the book of Nehemiah;
Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the desert. By day the pillar of cloud did not cease to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. For forty years you sustained them in the desert; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen. (Nehemiah 9:19-21)

Are you experiencing a "desert like" situation in your life? Dry, barren, listless, troublesome & stormy events maybe crushing you.
Remember, the Lord who sustained the Israelites in the desert will take care of you too. Trust in Jesus. Be strong and courageous. He will make a way for you to rejoice again.

 

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Dr. Johnson's Devotionals From The Word Of God- 8

Indonesia has over 130 active volcanoes, more than any other country on earth. Towering 1,200ft above the Sunda Strait in Indonesia, one of the most terrifying volcanoes the world has ever known- the Krakatoa began to stir once more last year. With an explosive force more than 13,000 times the power of the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima, the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa killed more than 36,000 people and severely changed global weather for years afterwards. The enormous tsunami it generated, destroyed 165 villages and towns. Scientists believe that if Krakatoa were to erupt again, the impact would be far more devastating than that which was experienced in the 19th century. Hundreds of thousands of people could be killed if there were another massive eruption.

Is there anyone human or robotic who can control this time bomb? After all the wonderful inventions and discoveries, man comes to a point wherein he is helpless if he chooses to go ahead on his own strength.

If there is anyone who can control this potential devastator, it's the Creator himself and he is in control of all things seen and unseen. He says,
Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:23, 24)

God is in control of every situation in the life of the one who has fear of the Lord.
The Bible says,
The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble. (Proverbs 19:23)
Praise the Lord.

 

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Dr. Johnson's Devotionals From The Word Of God- 9


The Sun is a star which has a diameter of about 109 Earths. It weighs about 330,000 times as much as Earth. By itself it accounts for about 99.86% of the Solar System's mass. The Sun's color is white though designated a yellow star. Its surface temperature of approximately 5,505°C. The mean distance of the Sun from the Earth is approximately 149.6 million kilometers. At this average distance, light travels from the Sun to Earth in about 8 minutes. It burns 4 million tons of hydrogen every second to create its light and heat. Amazing and intriguing, isn't it?

The Psalmist likens the Sun to a champion. He sang,
The sun...which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat. (Psalm 19:5, 6)

But the Bible also speaks of a day when the Sun will be darkened and the moon no more will give it's light. Jesus said,
"Immediately after the distress of those days "'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' (Matthew 24:29)

This will happen just prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. He himself said,
At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. (Matthew 24:30, 31)

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (Matthew 24:36)

As believer's in Jesus Christ, we have to be ready at all times for the Lord's return. Let us not be found wanting when the time comes. Jesus said, "Watch & Pray", and that is what we have to do each day.

 

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Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1, 2)

Declared guilty on all accounts, but the judge of all the earth sacrifices his own son to set you free. How do you like that?

The Bible says,
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:29-32)

The world condemns believers who truly live for the Lord, because true believers do not conform to the ways of the world.

The Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians,
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

Because you are washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God, there is now no condemnation for you. So rejoice, child of God.

 

[jeremiah7]

Simple Thoughts On Promises- 299

The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him. (Daniel 9:9)

Daniel the prophet, understood from the Scriptures that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. So he turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. He prayed to God and confessed: "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws."

Acknowledging sin is the first step to restoration. The Israelites had sinned and now they were undergoing punishment in a foreign land. Daniel confessed the sins of God's people and then he acknowledged the merciful and forgiving nature of God.

Truly, our God is merciful and forgiving. If we repent of our sins, God restores the intimate relationship that we desire with him. Repentance means turning away from sin and bearing fruit that indicates repentance.

We, as believers, must often check our lives to see whether we are really walking with God; for that is what he desires from us. Praise the Lord.