Oct 25 2024

And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

When Moses was near death, he spoke to Joshua, his successor who would lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. Moses knew that Joshua would experience many frightening situations along the way, and he encouraged Joshua by reminding him that the Lord would be with Him always. Although this verse took place during Old Testament times, it applies to our lives today. Let's take a look at how.

Being a Christian can be difficult. We are called to live holy lives that look very different from those of our neighbors and coworkers who are not Christians. We must often take a stand against situations and practices that we know are wrong, and this takes a tremendous amount of courage and faith in the Lord. Similarly, Joshua was about to enter into a land filled with dangerous warriors. He could do so in faith because he remembered the words of Moses.

Wherever you are, whatever you are facing, remember that the Lord is with you. Knowing that the Lord of heaven and earth is with you at all times should fill you with confidence. You can have faith and trust that He will sustain you and protect you. Nothing will happen that is contrary to His will, and nothing could compromise His love for you. Even if the worst happens, you have eternity with Him to look forward to.

Because we know the Lord will never forsake us, we don't have to be afraid or dismayed. The Lord is much more powerful than we'll ever be, and He is stronger than we will ever understand. He works for the glory of His name so that all people may come to know Him. When you face something that seems insurmountable, remember that the Lord already knows what will happen, will guide you through it, and loves you without end.

Dear Lord, I thank you for going before me always. Thank you for never forsaking me, even when I was at my weakest. Thank you for loving me and caring for me. I give my fear to you and ask that you would give me peace in return. In Jesus' name, amen.

Oct 24 2024

Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. :

In this passage from 2 Corinthians, Paul's use of the word "bountifulness" is in reference to the rewards of sowing and reaping. When we share the love of the Lord with other people, encouraging them in Him, we are sowing good seeds. These seeds will reap the fruits of righteousness and we will, as the verse says, be "enriched in every thing to all bountifulness." As a result, we will express our thanks to the Lord. What exactly does that mean and how does it apply to us today?

Think about the good seeds that you have the opportunity to sow day after day. Has God placed people in your life whom you should minister to? Do you have a talent or ability that would serve the local church? Do you have savings that might be put to good use around the world? Ask the Lord what fertile ground might be ready for you to put good seed in. He will show you what He wants you to do.

After you have sown, wait for the Lord to do the reaping. Remember that we do not sow simply for the good things that will come out of the sowing, but rather, to obey the Lord. Indeed, the reaping of what we've sown rarely happens automatically, and it may not even happen in the same place where we originally sowed the seeds. Have patience with the Lord, and trust that He sees and will honor your good works in His way and in His time.

The greatest reaping of all is having intimacy with the Lord. When we obey Him by sowing seeds in the proper places, we'll get to know Him better. We will understand how much Jesus sowed into each of our lives, and we will love Him more because of that realization. When we sow, we shouldn't think about the people we're serving or expect anything from them in return. Rather, we should trust and believe that we are doing our work unto Him and know that He sees us.

When we do receive blessings from our sowing, we should give praise to the Lord for them. We recognize that He is the source of every good thing in our lives, and we can rest in His faithfulness and goodness.

Dear Lord, thank you for your goodness. Thank you for your constant kindness, mercy, and love. Help me to honor you and to serve you as I seek to do your will, especially when it's difficult. Thank you for calling me to a holy, sacred life with you. In Jesus' name, amen.