A Virtuous Mother (Proverbs 31:10)
Proverbs 31:10, Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. In Proverbs 31, we see the characteristics of a virtuous woman. She is hard working, frugal, loves her husband, puts her family first, is trustworthy and wise, and isn't a worrier. Proverbs 31 was written by a king, but taught by a mother. What she taught her son influenced a family, a nation and the world. Although God never spoke about this king’s leadership, nor how he governed the nation, nor his prosperity, He did speak of what “his mother taught him.” The Word of God declares that a virtuous woman is a rarity (Proverbs 31:10). She is a treasure compared to being “far above rubies”. A virtuous mother is hard to find, but not impossible. In the end “she shall be praised”. She will be praised by her children, husband (Proverbs 31:28) and by her works (Proverbs 31:31). Praise the Lord for mothers who keep a close and consistent walk with the Lord. A virtuous mother is a hardworking mother. By this mother’s very actions she displayed virtue. The Bible gives us 18 examples: seeketh and worketh (Proverbs 31:13), bringeth (Proverbs 31:14), riseth (Proverbs 31:15), considereth, buyeth and planteth (Proverbs 31:16), girdeth and strengtheneth (Proverbs 31:17), perceiveth (Proverbs 31:18), layeth (Proverbs 31:19), stretcheth and reacheth (Proverbs 31:20), maketh (Proverbs 31:22, 24), selleth and delivereth (Proverbs 31:24), openeth (Proverbs 31:26), and looketh (Proverbs 31:27). She is recognized also for her words of wisdom and kindness (Proverbs 31:26). She speaks virtuously because her heart is full of virtue. Moral goodness will not come out if there is not moral goodness inside. Our Lord Jesus Christ spoke of this in Matthew 12:34. The Word of God reveals to us that this virtuous mother first spoke of her husband (Proverbs 31:11-12, 23, 28). A mother of virtue is submissive to her husband. A husband whose wife is virtuous is a man who is truly honored and blessed (Proverbs 12:4). Every mother has within her the ability to be a mother a great influence wherever she is planted in life. She plays an important role in being key to her child’s potential and prosperity in life. The lessons she teaches her children often carry into the next generation. What lessons will she teach her children? What lessons can you teach your children that will inspire them to live these lessons they have been taught? Prayer: Lord, help me to reflect Your character that I may inspire others to come to know You through Your Son Jesus Christ. Although I’m imperfect and at times inconsistent, I desire to be influential that I may impact others for You so that they may aspire to do great things for You. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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Jochebed...God Fearing Mother (Hebrews 11:23) – PART 2
Hebrews 11:23, By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. Jochebed was an Israelite, a member of the tribe of Levi. She, and her husband Amram, were evidently very dedicated and godly people. They were willing to defy the order of Pharaoh and keep the commandments of God. Every mother needs a relationship with the Lord. Abraham Lincoln declared, "No man is poor who has had a godly mother." According to Numbers 26:59, Jochebed had three children (Miriam, Aaron, and Moses) and all were used of God. This was not by accident, but due to the fact that she was a God-fearing mother. A mother’s influence is so powerful since she is with her children in the early years. Childhood years are an influential, developmental and molding time. She poured out her life into the life of her son. Jochebed refused to give in to a godless system that would have cost her the life of her son. The world demands that parent’s hand over their children and allow them to be trained and taught the ways of the world. But children need and deserve better than that! The Bible instructs that parents will teach their children the ways of God and steer them clear of the world and its devises. It takes faith to go against the grain and raise your children for the Lord, but God will bless you, and them, for it! It’s been said that, “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world”. Children are influenced more by their parents than most people realize. A child’s desires and dislikes are shaped early in their life as they reflect your character and integrity (Proverbs 22:6). Parent’s that train and teach their children what they are supposed to believe and how they are to live so that when they are grown, they will know what to believe and how to live. Children with no training (that are left to themselves and allowed to do whatever they please) will bring their mother to shame (Proverbs 29:15). A God-fearing mother has a strong faith in God and His Word. Hebrews 11 is considered the hall of heroes of faith. Jochebed displayed her faith in God when she obeyed God and took Him at His Word. When a person builds a house there are blue prints they must follow in order for the construction to be a success. When a baker bakes they must follow the directions according to the recipe. A mother molds the life of her child with the Word of God as it instructs her to do so. Parents, perhaps you will never know the complete impact of the child you are raising and what they may do for the Lord! Give them the best you have while you have them and turn out God fearing, God following young men and women who will live for the glory of the Lord! Young adults whom God can use for His glory out into the future. Young people who will instill the same values in their children that you have placed in them. PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for my mother. A woman who worked hard and made several sacrifices during my childhood that I may become the man I am today. Today, You have stirred my heart and have spoken to me about the importance of strengthening and building relationships. Help me be an example before the younger generation that would impact them to choose to live for You while their still young and to know You personally through Jesus Christ. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Jochebed...God Fearing Mother (Hebrews 11:23) – PART 1
Hebrews 11:23, By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. We are introduced to a woman named Jochebed. She stands out as one of the greatest mothers revealed in the pages of Scripture. Her selfless love and sacrifice made possible the exodus of God's people from Egypt and literally changed the course of history. It would do us well this morning to look at the life of this great mother. As we do, we find characteristics that stand as reminders to all of our mothers, teaching them what they should be as well. Jochebed’s name means “Jehovah glorified”, or “God’s glory”. A god fearing mother brings glory to God through her children. Not much is said about Jochebed, but what we do know is what she did for God. She brought glory to the Lord and it is seen in how her children turned out for the Lord. Jochebed’s children did some great things. Miriam was a prophetess (Exodus 15:20); Aaron was a high priest for the nation of Israel (Exodus 28:1); and Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 3:11). The events around the life of Jochebed are found in Exodus 2:1-10. Not much is spoken about her in Scripture. But what we do find is that she was a courageous, God-fearing mother. She feared God rather than obeying the king’s commandment (Acts 5:29). Pharaoh commanded that every Hebrews son be cast into the crocodile infested Nile river. Jochebed took baby Moses and placed him in an ark of bulrushes. It took faith to place the child in the river. This was the same instrument which was being used to destroy the other babies, (Exodus 1:22). It took faith for this mother to take her hands off the life of this child and leave him to the will of God. It takes faith for us to let our children go, but that day is coming. Some parents live in denial and try to hold on to their children far too long. But the day is coming, sooner or later, when that child must be allowed to become an adult. It takes faith to just leave them in the hands of God, but the child who has a praying mother, a life filled with the Bible and training in the way of the Lord has the advantage and will do well. Jochebed was raising her son to give him to the Lord. She gave up her son to save her nation even though she didn't realize the impact that she was making at the time. According to the Bible, God gave His son for us! When He did, God knew exactly what He was doing. In fact, when Jesus came and died for our sins at Calvary. That was the greatest expression of love the world would ever see (Romans 5:8). Jochebed gave her son for Israel. God gave His Son for the world, John 3:16, II Corinthians 5:15. He died for all! He died for you! PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for my mother. A woman who worked hard and made several sacrifices during my childhood that I may become the man I am today. Today, You have stirred my heart and have spoken to me about the importance of strengthening and building relationships. Help me be an example before the younger generation that would impact them to choose to live for You while they’re still young and to know You personally through Jesus Christ. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Eunice…A Teaching Mother (II Timothy 3:14-15) – PART 2
II Timothy 3:14-15, But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Eunice did not wait until Timothy was older to teach him the bible, but from a child she made them known to him. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 gives parents the command of how they should give their children Scripture at a young age. The Bible commands us to “teach them diligently unto thy children.” This was to be done in six ways. 1. Thou “shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house.” Perhaps the most basic opportunity is when the entire family sits down together for at least one meal a day. 2. Likewise, we are commanded to talk of God’s words “when thou walkest by the way,” in other words, when we travel. 3. Parents are commanded to teach God’s words “when thou liest down” (bedtime). 4. “when thou risest up” (in the morning). Moses repeatedly refers to God’s Words (plural). 5. God, through Moses, commanded that Israel was to “bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.” Perhaps the greater idea is how one will tie a string around one’s finger as a reminder to do something. God’s Word was to be continually as a reminder. 6. Finally, Israel was to “write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.” Plaques of Scripture were to be placed on the walls and doorways of the homes of godly people. For the Scripture to get a child’s heart (Deuteronomy 6:6), we must teach it, we must talk of it, and we must write it. In other words, what they see and hear will become a part of them. It takes external teaching to make an internal change. Scripture does something for a child that a parent cannot. Scripture is God breathed and is from God and can transform a child’s life. Eunice’s teaching Timothy of the Scriptures to Timothy played a part in his salvation II Timothy 3:15. We should use every opportunity to teach children the Bible. Encourage children while they’re young to memorize Scriptures, particularly the book of Proverbs. Proverbs is clearly written to young people (Proverbs 1:4). What you put in a boy will come out in the man. Timothy was a man of God because as a child he was taught the Word of God by his mother. All children have the same habit, and that is the tendency to copy (Proverbs 23:26). Be genuine in your love God for God and His Word, and your children will copy your actions. PRAYER: Lord I thank you for our children. We can trust You with their lives, and ask the strength of Your Holy Spirit to help us lead them to doing Your will. Each child was created on purpose, with purpose. We ask You to help us trust You more. Bless our hearts with great faith, daily steps of obedience and lives full of evident trust in Your love. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Eunice…A Teaching Mother (II Timothy 1:5) - PART 1
II Timothy 1:5, When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. I think of a young man who grew up in a home without a Christian father, but with a godly mother and a godly grandmother; and this young man became a major influence for the cause of Jesus Christ in the first century. His name was Timothy. How did a little boy from the city of Lystra, a mystical city given over to idol worship, develop into such a great leader for the cause of Jesus Christ? He was raised by a godly mother and grandmother. There had been three generations of genuine faith in Timothy’s family: first, his grandmother Lois; then his mother Eunice; and now finally Timothy himself. What made this mother stand out were her qualities in her own life that she passed down to her own son. Eunice’s husband is not mentioned by name in the Scripture. Eunice was a Jewess, and believed; but his (Timothy's) father was Greek. This suggests Timothy’s father was probably an unbeliever. The story of Eunice and Timothy gives hope to one parent homes or couples who are unequally yoked. Good things about Timothy can be attributed to the training of his mother. In Acts 16:1-3, Timothy is called a disciple, well reported of by the brethren, and desired by the Apostle Paul on his journeys. Even Paul recognized the influence of Timothy’s mother in II Timothy 1:5. Materialism and wealth cannot compare to a child growing up to serve God and honor his parents. The name that Eunice gave Timothy showed her desire for Timothy, as his name means “dear to God”. What a person does is greatly due to what his parents taught him. Paul said to Timothy that what he would be remembered most about Timothy’s mother was that the faith she had was genuine. The word “unfeigned” means undissembled, sincere, or without hypocrisy. A child who grows up with a parent who takes seriously the things of God, has ingrained in them a faith that will last their lifetime. A child’s convictions and what he or she believes are shaped by the child’s parents. Often when a parent who says, “I want my children to choose their own way” have already chosen it for them. A teaching mother will train her children in the things of God, but more importantly will live them. Eunice’s faith was portrayed in her life because of a heart that believed in God. You can’t help but teach what you truly believe. Sure, Timothy learned from Paul and others, but his foundation was under the influence of his mother Eunice. Paul tells us that Timothy had a real, living faith in his heart. He had more than just a profession of faith; he had an active faith. PRAYER: Lord I thank You for my parents who love and care for me. May I honor them and show my love and care for them for the many sacrifices they have made in my life. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Eve: The First Mother (Genesis 4:25-26) – PART 2
Genesis 4:25-26, And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD. The first woman-wife-mother carried a lot on her shoulders—Yet she found hope in the same promised Seed that we all look too. Eve was created in God’s image just like Adam (Genesis 1:27). She was his equal, yet she had a different role than her husband. God made Eve to be a “help meet for him (Genesis 2:18)”. Adan and Eve lived in the garden of Eden in perfect harmony. It may be hard for us to imagine today but in the beginning, their marriage was perfect - no disagreements, no harsh words, no comparisons. Eve didn’t hear about “how great a cook Adam’s mother was” and Adam didn’t have to hear about “how much money Eve’s father made”. In Genesis 4, Adam and Eve’s children were grown and Eve had experienced the horror of her oldest son murdering his younger brother. What another huge blow this first mother faced. However, God blessed yet again and gave this first family another son (Genesis 4:25). Eve's final recorded words in Scripture are in (Genesis 4:25). Her words are words of hope and praise as she thanks God for Seth. She said, "God hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel." Again, her naming of Seth indicates hope. Seth was not the Promised One, but the Promised Seed Jesus Christ would come through the line of Seth. She believed that he would be the promised Seed. The name Seth means substituted, set, or appointed; in this case another seed. Seth would take the place of Abel and be in the line of Christ. When Seth married, he had a son and named him Enos which means mortal man or frailty. The Bible says that men then began to call upon the name of the Lord. The word call in the Hebrew means to call out by name or proclaim. Revival of the need for God was breaking out as man realized how frail he was and that he did need the Lord in his life. Seth, the substitute was one of four substitutes in Genesis. NOTICE: With Seth’s line “then began men to call upon the name of the Lord (Genesis 4:26)”. I believe Eve, through the naming of her sons, showed that she believed God’s Word and was looking forward to the Promised Seed. Eve displayed her hope in God’s promised Seed through the naming of her sons. She was looking forward to Christ and the destruction of sin and despair that Adam’s sin had brought upon the world. Just as Eve did nearly 6,000 years ago, we too have a choice concerning our own legacies. Will we choose to be like Eve at the Fall and not obey God’s Word, which leads to a legacy of sin and despair? Or will we choose to be like Eve when she named her sons and evidenced hope in the Saviour, Jesus Christ, who came to save us? The importance of choosing the right legacy becomes especially relevant to women with respect to the teaching of our children. Whether those children are biological or spiritual, our legacy affects them. PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, that You are my Father. Thank You that You love me and want what’s best for me and for my family. I pray that godly mothers would continue to fear You and serve You. They would keep their eyes and heart focused on You. In Jesus’s name. Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Eve: The First Mother
(Genesis 1:27; 2:22; 3:20) – PART 1 Genesis 1:27, So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 2:22, And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. Genesis 3:20, And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. Eve, the first woman and mother had a lot on her shoulders. In fact, she was a wife and mother with no example to follow. Eve, whose name means “the mother of all living,” was the only woman ever to become a mother without first having had a mother of her own. In fact, she had no sisters, aunts, grandmothers, or girlfriends to turn to for advice. In short, she had no role models and no one with whom to compare notes. It all started out so beautifully. How perfect Adam and Eve must have been, not only mentally, emotionally and spiritually, but physically as well. God described the two humans made in His image as “very good.” Before the Fall, communion between God and those made in His image was as natural as breathing. They were also comfortable and unashamed in God’s presence. Then it happened. Eve was deceived (Genesis 3:1-6; II Corinthians 11:3), while Adam knew more clearly what he was doing (I Timothy 2:14), and so he is named in Scripture as the one who brought sin into the world. Can you imagine how Eve must have felt when the consequences of her disobedience began to surface (Genesis 3:7, 10)? Can you imagine an unhappier scene? These two previously perfect human beings—in perfect relationship with God and with each other, living in perfect surroundings—were now hiding in shame and fear from their Creator. Intimate relationship with God had been broken and their relationship with each other damaged, as we see when God asked Adam if he had eaten from the forbidden tree. According to Genesis 3:12-13, we see that Adam blamed not only Eve for his sin, but God as well! At least Eve was honest enough when she was confronted to admit to God, “The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.” (Genesis 3:13). Try to picture for a moment what Eve must have been experiencing at that instant. First, her once-perfect relationship with God had been broken, and now her beloved husband had turned on her in an attempt to save himself. Could their love survive such an onslaught? Could she ever trust or respect him again? Amazingly, it is at this point that Adam named his wife Eve, “because she was the mother of all living (Genesis 3:20).” There’s no question that Adam and Eve had some serious forgiving to do. They had both failed—and failed each other. Worse than that, they had failed God. And they had even blamed each other—and God—for their failures. But thank God that in providing a covering for their sins and wrongs, He provided the example of forgiving others. PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, that You are my Father. Thank You that You love me and want what’s best for me and for my family. I pray that godly mothers would continue to fear You and serve You. They would keep their eyes and heart focused on You. In Jesus’s name. Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Hannah…Praying Mother (I Samuel 1:27-28)
I Samuel 1:27-28, For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there. One of the greatest fears that troubles Satan is prayer. He trembles when a Christian prays. In this fractured world, each family faces troubles, tests and tribulations, but the trial in your home can be turned into blessing if you turn to the Lord. The Lord desires to do the impossible through situations that seem unbearable. Hannah had prayed earnestly, continually and specifically for a child and God blessed Hannah and answered her prayers with the birth of Samuel. After the blessing of the child, she did not forget God, Hannah dedicated her son to the Lord for His service. This truly exemplifies the concept of dedication. We learn at least three valuable lessons from Hannah’s prayer life (there are more than three): 1. Hannah prayed earnestly (I Samuel 1:11). remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, Hannah’s heart was expressed in her words. A praying mother is a great asset to her home, her church and her community. She prays for wisdom and discernment in teaching and training her children. Her prayer is a desire that her children would come to know the Lord, to serve Him and to do His will. 2. Hannah prayed continually (I Samuel 1:12). she continued praying before the LORD, Hannah prayed several times a day; every day. A godly mother prays for her family every day. Just praying on occasion is not enough. The Scriptures commanded everyone to pray (Luke 18:1; Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6; I Thessalonians 5:17). 3. Hannah prayed specifically (I Samuel 1:27). For this child I prayed; Hannah did not just pray for any child. She specifically prayer for a man child. There is nothing wrong with praying specifically. In fact, it’s Biblical. Just as it is important when we make a list of priorities, God desires that we prioritize our prayer life. Prayers for your family need to be specific. God remembered Hannah's prayer and Hannah bore a son and named him Samuel, which means “God heard”. Hannah learned a wonderful truth: God answers prayer. Samuel was a gift from the Lord: the Lord had given Samuel because she had prayed believing. Prayer is the answer to our afflictions. When we are in deep sorrow and our hearts are broken, prayer is the answer. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I know that nothing happens in my life that Your not aware of. I know that You will not abandon me in this affliction. SO, I’m asking You to teach me to see Your comforting hand in this affliction. May this sweeten my love, secure my hope and strengthen my faith. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Once Unprofitable…Now Profitable (Philemon 11)
During World War II, an engineer at General Electric, named James Wright, was searching for a synthetic rubber substitute. In one of his experiments, he poured boric acid into a test tube filled with silicone oil, and it became a soft, malleable substance. Imagine his surprise when he dropped a glob of the substance on the floor—and it bounced! With a little more investigation, Wright discovered that the substance could also be stretched, flattened, rolled, and sculpted into many different shapes. Around the General Electric labs, the substance became something of a novelty. Soon many GE employees were taking some home to show their family and friends. Unfortunately, the new substance proved to have a rather short shelf life, which made it useless for engineering purposes. It was dismissed by the GE engineers as an interesting, but worthless, discovery. But a writer named Peter Hodgson became intrigued with the amazing substance after he saw it demonstrated at a party. Hodgson, a copywriter for a toy catalog, had a feeling that the failed rubber substitute would be extremely popular with children, even if it was not useful for engineers. After testing the material for safety, Hodgson packaged the stuff in plastic eggs and added a name to it. Within months the weird rubber, known as Silly Putty, became one of the hottest-selling toys in American history. What looked completely worthless to one person, when put in the hands of another, was extremely valuable. The wise man saw value in that which looked like a failure, or worthless. Onesimus was a slave who had ran away from his master, Philemon. He later came to faith in Christ through the apostle Paul’s ministry. In fact, Paul refers to Onesimus as “my son” because Paul directly shared Christ with him (Philemon 10). The book of Philemon is a letter Paul wrote to tell Philemon (a believer who also came to Christ through Paul’s ministry) that Onesimus had come to saving faith in Christ In the letter, Paul asks that Philemon allow Onesimus to return to him without fear of punishment. Paul not only asks that Philemon accept Onesimus back, but also that he welcome him as a brother in Christ (Philemon 15-16). Onesimus’s name means “useful”, or “profitable.” Paul states, “Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: (Philemon 11). Once useless, Onesimus became useful through the saving and transforming grace of God. We perhaps would not count him as profitable, but Paul is writing Philemon to let him know that Onesimus is profitable for him. People that you may think are worthless, or there is no hope for them, God can save that person and make them into something great for his glory and use. That person is very profitable for the ministry. The truth is, before Christ, we were Onesimus. We were useless. We were rebellious and runaway slaves. Deserving punishment for our sins, we feared returning home to our Master. We felt ashamed, worthless and unloved. The story of Onesimus and Philemon is also our story — the story of Jesus transforming us from useless to useful, from wandering runaways to beloved brothers and sisters. PRAYER: Father, it amazes me that You are ever mindful of me and that my worth matters to You. I thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to give His life that I can have life eternal. Knowing that I’m precious to You, and that every day You are transforming me to be more like Jesus, encourages me to give my life to You in service to others. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Today’s devotion is an excerpt taken from the Leadership page from our website. If you would like to read this article in its entirety, please open the Leadership link.
Love That Knows No Measure (Ephesians 3:17-19) Ephesians 3:18, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; Paul prays that we may be able to comprehend Christ’s love. Comprehend means to grasp, or to take in. Paul wants us all to know and understand the breadth, length, depth and height of Christ’s love. How can finite man grasp the love of an infinite Christ? It is infinitely wide, long, deep and high. Naturally, we will never be able to grasp Christ’s infinite love. Paul’s prayer is requesting that God’s infinity might fill man’s finiteness. We can never know the breadth, length, depth, and height of Christ’s love to the point of His understanding, but we can know it to the point of ours. He prayed that we might know the breadth of Gods love (how wide). There is nothing narrow about God’s love for people. Jesus loved the publicans and sinners. He loved the wayward prodigal and He loved his bitter older brother. He loved Judas as much as He loved John. He loved Pilate as much as Peter. Such is God’s love, It is wonderfully wide. God loves the world (John 3:16). Paul prayed that we might know the length of Gods love (how long). How long does God love us? When, for instance, did God start loving us? Was it when we were saved? Was it when we first responded to the Holy Spirit’s call? Was it when we were born? Was it when He made the world? No, He loved us long before that, His is an everlasting love, a love without a beginning, as eternal as He Himself is (Jeremiah 31:3). Paul prayed, too, that we might know the depth of Gods love (how deep). How deep is that love? Well, Jesus stepped off the throne of the universe and came to earth. That was a long way down. Finally, Paul prayed that God’s people might know the height of God’s love (how high). Jesus has now ascended on high and is seated in the highest heaven. His throne is high and lifted up. He reigns amidst scenes of splendor. Angel hosts bow down to Him. Bright, sinless beings rush to do His will. He basks in His Father’s love. Has He now forgotten us? Oh, no! He has seated us with Himself in the heavenlies. Such is His love. Concerning God's love there is nothing greater. You can dig all day in one area and find nothing. In the Bible, it does not matter where you dig-you will find riches. Let's take out our spiritual shovel and dig deep into God's precious Word. PRAYER: LORD, I thank You for loving me unconditionally. The more I read Your love letter, the Bible, the more I come to know You and understand how much You love me. I pray I never lose the desire to dig each day in Your Word and also share Your love letter, the Bible, to others. In Jesus name AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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