Verily, verily, I say unto you,

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)

Here lies the unfathomable hope that all Christians share alike: By the blood of Jesus Christ, we pass out of death and despair and into eternal life full of joy.

Blessed [are] they

Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6)

Your hunger shall be filled. Your thirst shall be quenched. Ever shall the child of righteousness be sated for the Lamb is his food and his drink. Christ is the living manna and the living water. The Christian feasts upon His body, broken for us, and His blood, shed for our sake. So go, O believer, in the power of the cross! Go forth and proclaim His life to all the nations until He comes again, that they too might taste the fullness of righteousness!

God [is] not a man

God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? (Numbers 23:19)

God is ever worthy of our trust. He is unchanging and uncompromising. His promises will always be kept and He shall always stand true to His word. Every promise shall find fulfilment in you who are Christ's workmanship. Rejoice therefore in Him and be filled!

EQUIPPED FOR GOOD WORK

EQUIPPED FOR GOOD WORK

2 Timothy 3:10-17
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=2+Timothy+3:10-17

Dear Father,

Help me adhere to right teaching, proper conduct, the right aim in
life and faith. Help me hold on patience, love, and steadfastness,
even when I am opposed and persecuted for doing so. When evil
people and impostors go from bad to worse, keep me from giving up
in the face of their persecution and opposition.

May I continue in what I have learned and firmly believe, knowing
that your Word is able to instruct me for salvation through faith
in Christ Jesus. Thank you for these writings - breathed by your
holy breath - which are good for teaching, reproof, correction, and
training in righteousness, that I may be complete and equipped for
every good work.

Father, complete your work in me, may I be ready to do your work
in the world!

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

And shewing mercy

And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:6)

God promises mercy to those who keep His holy commands, yet what man could ever see this promised mercy? Only one. Only One. Only Christ. And by His love for us, we too see God's mercy. Christ's infinitely valuable obedience bought mercy for all those who would seek it. Praise our Lord and Saviour for our bountiful access to His saving mercy!

And, behold,

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Reflection
The end is near! The time of our final victory in Christ is upon us! He is coming soon and with His coming, the doom of sin, the doom of evil, and the doom of death itself! Praise be! Praise be! Praise be!

An "Unpopular" Prophetic Promise of Apostasy

An "Unpopular" Prophetic Promise of Apostasy
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron. (1 Timothy 4:1-2)

As we continue to alternate between "precious promises" and "unpopular" promises, we come to a prophetic promise of apostasy. Among those who are actually drifting into apostasy, this promise is certainly "unpopular." Additionally, in a church world that wrongly accepts what sounds positive and rejects what sounds negative (instead of rejecting error and accepting truth), this promise is often met with disinterest or, worse, disdain.

"The faith" is the message of the word of God. It is the divine truth in which we are to place our faith, our trust. It especially includes the good news of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our present promise forewarns that there will be those who fall away from "the faith" as the days press closer and closer to the end of the church era. "In latter times some will depart from the faith." Since this is a departure, they seemed to adhere to the word of God for a season. Then they turned away from it. If they remain active in the church world, their message will no longer reflect the true content of the Scriptures. Peter gave a similar warning. "There were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them" (2 Peter 2:1). As sure as Israel had false prophets, the church would have false teachers.

Paul provided some insights into their path of apostasy. They would be "giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons." Paying attention to concepts that were perpetrated by demonic deception would result in errors in their doctrine. The devil and his army of evil spirits are intent on confusing and distorting the teaching of the word of God. Typically, such errors feed man's fleshly desires to glorify self.

These apostates would also be "speaking lies in hypocrisy." Not only would their teaching be erroneous, their lives would be marked by falsehoods related to pretense. They would add untrue testimony to their inaccurate message. Perhaps the reports of their ministerial prowess would be grossly exaggerated.

They would also be "having their own conscience seared with a hot iron." They would teach errors and live lies until their consciences were no longer convicted of sin. We are forewarned. Such apostates undoubtedly abound in these last days.

Lord God of truth, thank You for lovingly warning of the danger of apostasy. Enlarge my appreciation of such "unpopular" promises. Please help me to cherish the truth of Your word. Give me a heart to know Your word. Sharpen my discernment concerning error. Keep my heart and my message anchored in the truth of Scripture, Amen.

A Precious Promise of God's Perfecting Work

A Precious Promise of God's Perfecting Work
The LORD will perfect that which concerns me. (Psalm 138:8)

Again, we look at one of God's "precious promises" (2 Peter 1:4). This one pertains to His perfecting work in the lives of those who know Him and humbly depend upon Him. This priceless promise is the Old Testament antecedent of the one we recently considered from Philippians 1:6. "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it."
Think of the astounding implications of our present promise. "The LORD will perfect that which concerns me." Our God has pledged to fully accomplish His will and His plan in every matter that pertains to our lives. Let's consider three important examples of "that which concerns [us]": development of biblical understanding, growth in godliness, and (for the married) spiritual progress in marriage.
God's word reveals that He wants us to develop in biblical understanding. "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food" (Hebrews 5:12). If we will humbly feed on God's word, seeking Him for spiritual insight, He "will perfect that which concerns [us]" in this area of life.
God's word reveals His will for us to grow in godliness. "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age" (Titus 2:11-12). If we seek the Lord and trust in Him for ongoing growth in godliness, He "will perfect that which concerns [us]" in this area as well.
God's word reveals His will with respect to spiritual progress in marriage. The Lord wants married couples to become mutually submissive servants, each serving the other out of reverence for the Lord: "submitting to one another in the fear of God" (Ephesians 5:21). The servant wife would follow the spiritual leadership of the husband. "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:22). The servant husband would love His wife with sacrificial Christ-like love. "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her" (Ephesians 5:25). As each seeks the Lord for His transforming grace, He "will perfect that which concerns [us]" in this vital area of life also.
Dear Father, I acknowledge many futile attempts to perfect myself. I easily forget that You have promised to attend to my perfecting. My vain efforts only quench the work of Your Spirit of grace. Lord, please carry out Your transforming work in my study of Your word, in my need to grow in godliness, in my relationships at home—as well as in my testimony on the job, in my service of You—yes, in my entire life, in Jesus' name, Amen.

DISCIPLINED FOR SERVICE

DISCIPLINED FOR SERVICE

2 Timothy 2:1-7
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=2+Timothy+2:1-7

Dear Father,

Make me strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Help me pass
your word on to others who also will share it.

Help me take my share of suffering as a good soldier of Christ.
Help me avoid "civilian" entanglements that would dilute my loyal
obedience to Christ, my commander.

Help me be a disciplined athlete for you. Help me to be a
hard-working farmer who tills in your vineyard, patiently waiting
for the harvest that comes from you.

In the name of Jesus I ask. Amen.

Cast thy burden upon

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. (Psalms 55:22)
Trust in the Lord, O son of righteousness, for He is worthy of your esteem. He is infinitely capable of caring for your needs and will always work even the most difficult of situations for benefit. Cast all your cares upon Him for He will be faithful to deliver you. Stand ever in your righteous hope in Christ and you shall not be moved.

For he is our peace,

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition [between us]; (Ephesians 2:14)
The unity in Christ is far beyond that which men might craft. It is promised that all Abraham's seed, both Jew and Gentiles alike, are truly of one body—a body of faith! Love your brothers in Christ. Leap to aid each other even as Christ Himself leapt to save you—at His own peril. This is the Gospel.

As many as I love.

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (Revelation 3:19)
Praise be to our ever-loving Father that He will always be faithful to chasten His children to correction. His discipline is of a caring love toward us—it is for our benefit, gracious and merciful. The Lord wants what is best for us and kindly prompts us to return to Him. Praise the Lord for His involvement.

And he said unto me,

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

God's grace is greater than our weakness. When we admit our weaknesses then more of Christ's strength can be manifested in us. We are used more when we are made less.

CARING HEARTS, WORKING HANDS

CARING HEARTS, WORKING HANDS

1 Timothy 5:1-22
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=1+Timothy+5:1-22

Dear Father,

Help me treat everyone in your family appropriately and with great
respect: older men like fathers, older women like mothers, younger
men as brothers, younger women as sisters.

Give us such caring hearts in our immediate families that we will
take care of widows, orphans, the sick, and the troubled. Give us
such caring hearts in your church that we shall supply whatever is
lacking in families.

Let us give honor to our elders appropriate to their work, whether
respect or material support.

In the name of Jesus we ask. Amen.