We are His Children

"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12

The work of Christ didn't just save us from Hell, or give us a ticket into the gates of Heaven. The Gospel does far, far more for us than either of those things. Believing in Christ makes you a child of God. God is your Father. Ephesians 1:5 says He adopted us as sons. Right now, today, as you walk this earth, you are a child of God so long as you have faith in Jesus Christ. Nothing can take that away from you. It's who you are.

Dear Lord,

How can it be that I can be called your child? It is almost too wonderful to comprehend. Please, please let me never forget who I am. 

Amen

The Eternal Gaze - No. 78

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." James 1:12

To remain steadfast does not come easy. It requires a continuous gaze on the cross. Knowing Christ has done the work and that he is the only hope on which we can rest will steady our course. If we remove our gaze from him our lives will go off course, the problems of this life will fill our boats with water and eventually dash us against the rocks. Steady your course and remain steadfast with God's Word. Our gaze must remain on Him. That eternal gaze is the only way to remain steadfast. The crown of life awaits. 

Dear Lord,

Please let me fix my eyes on you. Help me to be steadfast. You are my only hope. Let me not forget that. 

Amen. 

Made Steadfast - No. 79

"for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." James 1:3

When you're in the middle of an unpleasant trial of life remember this verse. There is encouragement in knowing you are being refined by God for something better. He always has a plan. We can never discern that plan while we are in the midst of it, but often times it becomes clear on the other side. Like Joseph told his brothers many years after they had maliciously sold him into slavery, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good." Genesis 5:20

Dear Lord:

Thank you for your plan of grace that is preparing us for eternity with you. Please give us the strength to endure all the trials of this life, and make us steadfast, with our eyes fixed only on Jesus. 

Amen. 

Victory in Jesus - No. 80 & 81

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

Once Jesus has saved us from the condemnation of sin our fight is won. The struggle isn't over and won't be this side of Heaven, but victory is assured. What better encouragement for the fight than knowing without a doubt that the battle for your soul is already won? Fight on brothers. Each day is a battle, but the battle is won. Forget what sin or disappointment lies behind. Strain forward to the the prize that lies ahead. Keep your eyes on Jesus and keep marching forward. 

Dear Lord, 

Thank you for the victory we have in Jesus. Help me to strain forward in confidence of the salvation I have in you. My citizenship in in Heaven, and that is where I long to be. Let not my gaze be taken off of Jesus. Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to thy cross I cling.  

Amen. 

A photo posted by Showcasing Your Epic Captures (@epic_captures) on Jan 19, 2015 at 9:55am PST

Encourage One Another - No. 82

"not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." Hebrews 10:25

Encourage yourself in the love of God by meeting with brothers and sisters in Christ. Your presence will be an encouragement to them, too. God stirs us for acts of love through Christian community. This is why it's so important for a Christian to be an active participant at church. This is where God helps us and strengthens us to use our gifts. It's where he heals us. Church is where you are reunited with the Body, and when the Body is together it flourishes. If you're there you'll flourish with it. 

Dear Lord:

Thank you for the community you've given me. Help me to be an encouragement to the brothers and sisters you've given me in Christ and to show them even the smallest glimpse of your great love. Also, please help me to draw the encouragement I need from your church. 

Amen. 

Focus on the Promises - No. 83

"...he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desires." 2 Peter 1:4

We become more like our Heavenly Father when we dwell on His promises. Feeding our soul with God's word helps us to grow in our understanding of Him and steels us against the temptations of the world and our own sinful desires. God's word is the sword of the spirit (Eph 6:17) and with it we can fight against every temptation we face. Even Jesus responded to the temptations of Satan with God's word. 

"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of  God." (Matthew 4:4)

Dwell on His promises and keep them close. You will need them even today. 

Dear Lord:

Thank you for the bread of life. Please feed it to me aplenty and help me to turn to it this day instead of to the temptations of this world. 

Amen. 

Bring Me to Completion - No. 84

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6

Are you weary in your faith?

Are you worried you won't make it?

Are you tired from the cares and toils of this life?

Take heart, Christian. It is not up to you to persevere until the end. Jesus will bring you home. In this verse we find the great comfort of the broad shoulders of God carrying us up the mountain toward Heaven. He will bring us to completion. Let your weight rest on Him. It's not up to you.

You will be there at the end, because God will be the one to carry you home.

Rest completely in Him.

Dear Lord:

Thank you for carrying me through the all the many toils and snares. Please give me the perseverance to finish the marathon of life with my faith in you intact so I can be there at the day of Jesus Christ. Bring me to completion. Let my confidence rest only in you. 

Amen.

A photo posted by @ourplanetdaily on Jan 14, 2015 at 3:02pm PST