From: July 23, 2023
‘Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children’ (Romans 8:15-16 NLT).
What is the greatest proof, the most convincing evidence that we have been adopted into God’s family? Isn’t it the internal witness of the Holy Spirit that comes to dwell in us? For He is the One who continually bears witness to our own minds that we have become God’s children through faith in Jesus Christ. As the apostle Paul wrote, receiving Christ, we have “received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
It is the Holy Spirit dwelling in us that assures us of our new identity as God’s children. It is His witness, His voice within us that moves us to cry out to God saying, “Abba, Father.”
PRAYER: O Heavenly Father, our Abba, hear us. For we are Your children. We cry out to You this day. Assure us by Your Spirit. For we are weak and in need of Your strength. Help us to hear Your voice and to sense Your presence. For we don’t want to take a step today without You. Thank You, Father. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: July 23, 2022
PRESENT SUFFERING COMPARED TO ETERNAL GLORY
We have been given the Spirit of Christ to abide in us, so that we have help in the present and hope for the future. Yet our bodies, and indeed all creation, groans in this present age of sorrow and suffering, while we await this future glory.
Yet the apostle Paul says that what we suffer now, no matter its degree and duration, “is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.” For the degree of this future glory with Christ is infinite and the duration, eternal.
The apostle used the imagery of a woman in labor to describe this present time and its longing. For the pains of childbirth are real, but temporary. And soon forgotten when the new mother holds the newborn infant in her arms and looks into its face. So shall we forget our present troubles when we see Christ at His return.
This reminds me of a hymn that my mother used to sing that was written by the Happy Goodmans:
“Well, I started out travellin’ for the Lord many years ago
I’ve had a lot of heartache and I met a lot of grief and woe
But when I would stumble, then I would humble down
And there I’d say, I wouldn’t take nothin’ for my journey now.
I wouldn’t take nothin’ for my journey now
Gotta make it to Heaven somehow
If I could, still I wouldn’t take nothin’ for my journey now”
PRAYER: Dear Father, we live now by the help and the hope you have given us through the Spirit of Christ abiding in us. Yet we long for the day when we shall be with You and share in Your glory. Until then, strengthen us for the journey that we might always bring glory to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: July 23, 2017
The spared and spoiled child grows up to bring shame and blame on his parents. He squanders his father’s inheritance and puts his own mother out of the family home in her old age to fend for herself. Make no mistake, God sees such a one and holds him accountable for breaking the commandment to honor his father and mother.
From: July 23, 2016
Both we and creation experience an inner groaning, as in the pains of childbirth, awaiting the fulfillment of our redemption. In these last days, as sin and suffering in this world increase, so does our longing for that which the Spirit within us promises. There is coming a Day when all suffering and pain will end. We will receive resurrection bodies like Jesus and we will dwell with Him forevermore. So, may the groaning of your body remind you of this hope.
From: July 23, 2015
Thus began the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The writer of 2 Chronicles must have been living during the time of the two Jewish kingdoms, so his words had a historic meaning. Yet, they also have a prophetic meaning because Israel is still in rebellion against the Son of David to this day. However, there is coming a Day when not only Israel’s rebellion will end, but the rebellion of humanity will end. On that Day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil. 2:10).
From: July 23, 2012
How many of God’s promises do you know? Have you yet prayed them? The Lord keeps them all. He loves to hear His children pray His Word back to Him. Pick a promise today and put it on like body armor. God’s promises always come true.
From: July 23, 2011
Have you ever noticed how quickly a new mother forgets her labor as she holds her infant in her arms? So shall we forget our present troubles when we see Christ at His return.