“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” Mark 16:16

The pastor asked the inhabitants of the island how someone could be saved.

An old man replied, “We will be saved if we repent, and forsake our sins, and turn to God.”

“Yes,” said a middle-aged female, “and with a true heart too.”

“I agree,” answered a third, “and with prayer.” And, added a fourth, “It must be the prayer from the heart.”

“And we must be diligent too,” said a fifth, “and keep the commandments.”

After each had contributed to the discussion, they felt that a decent creed had been compiled. They all turned and waited for the pastor’s approval. But instead, they had aroused deep pity in his heart.

The worldly mind always tries to map out a way we can do works and become great, but the Lord’s way is just the opposite. Believing and being baptized aren’t deeds to be gloried in. They are so simple that boasting is impossible, and God deserves all the praise for the free grace He has given.

To believe is simply to trust, to depend, to rely on Christ Jesus. To be baptized is to submit to the ordinance which our Lord fulfilled at Jordan, to which the earliest believers submitted at Pentecost, and to which the jailer obeyed the night of his conversion. The outward sign of baptism does not save, but it encompasses our death, burial, and resurrection with Jesus, and, like the Lord’s Supper, shouldn’t be neglected.

It may be that you are unsaved. What is the reason? Do you think Jesus’ singular path of salvation is unclear? But how can that be when God has given us His own word and His assurance of its clarity? Do you think it is too easy? Why, then, do you not accept and embrace it? Its ease leaves those who choose to neglect it without excuse.

If you are not a believer, then remember there is only one door, and if you will not enter by it you will perish in your sins. But if you do believe in Jesus, then my dear friend, dismiss your fears, for you will surely be saved.

Question: Do we sometimes put too much confidence in our own good works? How can we begin to focus more on God?

Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon,
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2009.
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Believe and Love

What We Believe, We Attract

Don’t Be Afraid, Just Believe

The post Believe and Be Saved appeared first on Thoughts About God.

Who’s Rights vs. What’s Right

In this country we are consumed with rights. Depending on who you listen to, an unborn child should have a “right” to live, or a woman should have a “right” to an abortion. In the media you will hear people who passionately believe they are right to fight for their rights, destroying others in the process. They speak in angry words against those who don’t agree with them. To be on the right side of moral issues with an angry spirit is also a sin.

Unfortunately, this attitude is also found in our churches, our families, and our own hearts. It is easy to get caught up in who’s right instead of what’s right. When we focus on who’s right, our motivation is proving my point, justifying my opinion, proving someone wrong, correcting someone, being vindicated. Do any of these motivations honor God? In a word, no.

When we focus on what’s right, we can graciously stand for truth and do so with the heart of the Father. God wants all men to be reconciled (Matthew 5:23-26, 18:15-17). So whether it is a political issue or that argument you had with your spouse, God calls us to surrender our “rights” and to pursue what is right, which is reconciliation. God will give us opportunities to choose what’s right versus who’s right, as He continues to mold us to be more like Himself.

Why choose what’s right?

For Jesus’ sake: Because I love Jesus and want to obey his prayer for unity in John 17, I will do everything He commands to be reconciled with those He loves. I choose to pursue oneness with all for whom He died. If the cross unites us, let nothing else separate us. John 3:16, 14:15, 21, 23-24; 15:9-14, 17:21-23.

For the Father’s sake: Because I love my Father and do not want to grieve His heart of love for His children, I will do everything I can to be in harmony with all His children. Relationship in His family and love for His children is more important to God than my position on anything not essential to salvation. Our heavenly Father is best able to correct His own children. 1 John 5:1-3, Matthew 5:9, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21.

For the Spirit’s sake: I do not want to hinder the Holy Spirit by any sinful attitude of anger, unforgiveness, or disunity. Ephesians 4:29-32, Isaiah 66:1-2, 32:15a, 17-18; 1 John 4:11-12.

For my sake: Because I want the grace and peace of God to reign in my life, I choose not to harbor bitterness or judgment. An unresolved offense hinders my worship and fellowship with God. I choose to let this situation be God’s instrument to train me in grace and righteousness. Hebrews 12:14- 15, Matthew 5:23-24, 5:7, 7:1-2; James 2:13, Romans 14:1, 10-13; 15:1.

For the sake of the church: Because I want the church to be a positive reflection of Jesus, I bring my opinions to the cross. I choose unbroken fellowship in His church because disunity dishonors the name of Jesus and brings reproach on the witness of the church to a lost world. John 17:21- 23, Ephesians 4:1-6, Galatians 2:20.

For the glory of God: Is anything worth forfeiting the glory of God in my life and in His church? No obedience is too costly, too humbling, or too hard, because I want His glory, power, presence, and blessing more than my personal agenda. Romans 15:5-7, John 17:24-26.

Pray that the Holy Spirit will show you the Father’s heart. Obey Him, no matter the cost. May Jesus be glorified as you seek to be reconciled with all your brothers and sisters in Christ.

By Sylvia Gunter
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

• I Demand to Be Right!
• How Christ Modeled Humility
• Humility Toward Each Other
• Humility by Phil Ware

The post Who’s Right vs. What’s Right appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.”  Romans 12:13 NLT

I used to feel like a prisoner locked inside my own world not knowing how to escape. Have you been here? Have you noticed that it is hard to talk to others around you about you? I consider myself a very private person. It was always hard for me to open up and share with others how I was really doing.

Over the years I have seen so many people betrayed because they shared intimate details about their lives with others they felt could be trusted. I knew at that point I didn’t want to be in that place having to suffer the embarrassment and the pain they experienced. Out of my own need God birthed a desire in me to become a safe place for others to heal.

We all need someone. We all need an outlet. We were never meant to be an island isolated from everyone else. It was never God’s plan for man to be alone. It is so freeing to be able to know that we have people in our corner that are genuinely concerned about us and our well-being. If you find yourself where I once was, ask God to lead you to the person you can be open with. Someone that has His heart for you. It may be a trusted friend, counselor, or pastor. Once you begin getting the help you need, will you also consider becoming a safe place for others to lean?

Lord, I often find myself drifting back into isolation out of fear of being hurt again. I ask that you lead me to the safe place of healing that is available for me. I ask that you teach me who to trust with my innermost thoughts. I pray that even as You heal me that I too will become a safe place for others to heal.

Thought:  Make a list of people you know that you consider a safe place. Then pray and ask God to lead you to who maybe the best for you to open your heart to. As you begin to sort through all of this, journaling is another form of unloading our hearts.

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

Come Alongside – by John Fischer

Extending Grace to Others

Rebuilding After a Wife’s Affair

When Your Husband Has an Affair

The post We All Need Somebody appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“(The Lord) satisfies your desires with good things…” Psalm 103:4

Cooking in the Western world has changed dramatically. My mother would rise early Sunday mornings to begin preparations for the dinner that would await us after church. Browning the meat to cook slowly in the oven, peeling potatoes that would quickly come to a boil upon our return.

I yet take pleasure from experimenting with new recipes—how will taste buds be titillated with the addition of curry? Will a pinch of saffron give rice an entirely new face?

In addition to this somewhat adventurous aspect of cooking, I enjoy the cooking equipment I own. Although it took a long time for my conversion to microwave benefits, I now regularly use this scientific advancement. When the day has been long and the schedule crowded, I am thankful that I can quickly heat up a bit of sauce to pour over pasta. The vitamins remain and hungry people are satisfied.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is the crockpot. This is an appliance that slowly—very slowly and safely—cooks foods. Before heading out to the day’s responsibilities, I can place meat and vegetables or soup ingredients into the crockpot, set the timer for six hours, and return to a complete and healthy meal.

Microwaves are great utensils for satisfying an immediate need. They are generally small and easy to clean. Crockpots, on the other hand, are somewhat hefty and even awkward. Cooking in them necessitates planning. But coming home at the end of a long day, weary from battles with commerce or classrooms, inhaling the aroma of deliciously prepared food can lift the spirits.

In today’s microwave world, we often expect Christian growth to happen similarly, but spiritual formation just doesn’t happen on a three-minutes-a-day schedule. Tuning out the world, sitting quietly to hear God, absorbing words and thoughts from scripture may not take the crockpot six hours, but it will take as much extended time as we can possibly give. Re-heated leftovers are sufficient occasionally, but only the food—both physical and spiritual—that has been carefully planned, seasoned with attention and cooked through and through satisfies completely.

by Marilyn Ehle
used by permission

Follow Us On:  Facebook  • ‘X’ Twitter  •  Instagram  • Pinterest

FURTHER READING

How to Have a Quiet Time with God

When Silence is More Than Being Quiet

“Have You Ever Been Alone With God?”

The post Crockpots and Microwaves appeared first on Thoughts About God.

Hear the Word of God in Genesis 1:1,3-4. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.”

Hear the sound of God’s voice that continually speaks his creative power in you and to you. Listen to James 1:17. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Be blessed in the light of your Father’s face. Be blessed in his good gifts of mercy and peace. Be blessed in his unchanging intention toward you. Look and see him gazing at you in rapt attention. Receive his download from the light of his eyes. Receive long gazes from the light of his countenance. Let your Abba transcend your wounds–spiritual, emotional, and physical– and any scar tissue which has formed there. His grace and blessing are in the light of his face toward you (Psalm 67:1).

Join the psalmist’s request in Psalm 31:16. “Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.” Receive the unfailing love of your Father in the light of his eyes. You are your Father’s precious one. You are his, you belong to his family of light. He turned you from darkness into his kingdom of light for a place in his inheritance in light (Colossians 1:12-13; Acts 26:18). He is your Lord, and you are who you are because you are in him. You have value, worth, belonging, and abundant acceptance. He cherishes your company. You are blessed to see his name Jehovah-Nissi, Banner of the Lord, over you as a canopy of love. You are blessed to see that he makes beauty for ashes out of the darkest things, as he moves on the face of the turmoil of your life and speaks light in you.

Listen to Psalm 36:9. “In your light we see light.” Receive the light of his heart toward you. The light of his face shines on you. Receive it because you are in Christ, in his cross, his resurrection, and his ascension to the right hand of the Father, and you are seated in him there. Rest there at his strong right hand and feel his strength as his light rises in you and consumes all darkness. Claim that light, and Christ in you, the hope of glory, will shine. Receive his light that lights your way. Receive the light of his flame of correction, burning away the chaff. Receive his purifying light with joy. Receive his light that warms all coldness.

God lifts you up and holds you, everything you love, everybody you love, and your future. He is holding you near in his arms of love. He has invested gifts of love in you all along. God will stir up all the gifts and graces he has placed in you for the right season. He will redeem every blessing with your name on it.

Receive his blessing in continuous moments of stewardship of life in the light of his face.

“The Lord bless you and kee you; The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace”  (Numbers 6:24-26).

Be blessed in the name of One who said, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3).

By Sylvia Gunter
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

• His Wonderful Light
• God’s Word Gives Joy and Light
• The End of the Story

The post The Light of God’s Face appeared first on Thoughts About God.

When life falls apart, what do you do?

All of us face hard circumstances—and some of these are very painful situations that last a long time. Unless we have a purposeful focus, joy can fade and hope may seem unattainable.

King David experienced extreme hardships, including the grief of losing both a child and a best friend. He also endured Saul’s attempts to kill him and, later on, a rebellion led by his own son. But even in hard times, David found hope and peace in God.

Why was David able to trust in the Lord? Because he knew how to meditate. That is, he focused his mind and spirit on God’s character, ways, and will in order to know the Lord better and obey Him.

What do you think about during the day? Do you set aside time to dwell solely on Jesus? Remind yourself periodically to bring your attention back to the Creator—one way to do this is to read several psalms and notice how the author refocuses on almighty God.

By continually focusing on God, David found peace in the midst of turmoil. We would be wise to follow his example. During times of difficulty, set your eyes on the Father and meditate on His Word.

Psalm 145:1-21

I will ^]extol You, my God, O King; And I will bless Your name forever and ever. ² Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever. ³ Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
And His greatness is ^]unsearchable.

⁴ One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. ^{5 ]}I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And^]on Your wondrous works. ⁶ Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, And I will declare Your greatness. ⁷ They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, And shall sing of Your righteousness. ⁸ The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy. ⁹ The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works. ¹⁰ All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, And Your saints shall bless You. ¹¹ They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your power, ¹² To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of His kingdom. ¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all ^]generations.

¹⁴ The Lord upholds all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down. ¹⁵ The eyes of all look expectantly to You, And You give them their food in due season. ¹⁶ You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

¹⁷ The Lord is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works. ¹⁸ The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. ¹⁹ He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. ²⁰ The Lord preserves all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy. ²¹ My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord,  And all flesh shall bless His holy name
Forever and ever.

By Dr. Charles Stanley
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

In Distress

Trouble and Distress

All Stressed Up and Nowhere to Go

The post The Moments That Sustain Us appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

How many of you would jump out of an airplane, or bungee-jump over a mile-high canyon, or race a car over one hundred miles an hour? Risky? You bet! But many people love to take these risks, even when it means putting their lives in someone else’s hands. The thrill and rush of adrenaline drives out their fear.

What about loving somebody? Really, deeply, openly loving another person? Now that can be scary. Riding a zip-line is one thing, but giving someone your heart is a completely different kind of risk. Loving means letting another person really know you. It also gives them the power to really hurt you.

God is that kind of vulnerable love. He understands what it means to be rejected by those whom He loves. Since the rebellion of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, people have turned against God. Yet, when it came to giving up His Son, Jesus, to die for those who broke His heart, He did it willingly. He knew the risks and still chose to love us at the ultimate cost.

Thousands of years later, He still offers that unwavering love. He offers hope, purpose and belonging to all and knows that some will love Him back and others will continue to reject Him. Could you do the same?

As God’s people, we are called to this hundred-mile-an-hour, jump-from-the-plane kind of love.

You know the risk. Will you take it?

Lord, thank You for taking the risk to love me. Give me the courage and strength to love others the way You love me. Amen.

Thought: Ask Jesus to help you in loving that difficult person in your life.

By Debbie West
Used by Permission

Follow Us On:  Facebook  • ‘X’ Twitter  •  Instagram  • Pinterest

FURTHER READING

Feelings, Forgiveness and Peace| by Dr. Muriel Larson

The Power of Forgiveness| by Dr. Henry Brandt

Love Your Neighbour

Love is Patient and Kind – a story of a man on a bus

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

The post Risky Business appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Fathers, do not make your children angry; but raise them with the training and teaching of the Lord”. Ephesians 6:4

When I come home from work and see those little noses pressed against the windowpane, then I know I’m a success.—Paul Faulkner

Today is Father’s Day. A day of cologne. A day of hugs, new neckties, long-distance telephone calls, and Hallmark cards.

Today is my first Father’s Day without a father. For thirty-one years I had one. I had one of the best. But now he’s gone. He’s buried under an oak tree in a west Texas cemetery. Even though he’s gone, his presence is very near—especially today.

It seems strange that he isn’t here. I guess that’s because he was never gone. He was always close by. Always available. Always present. His words were nothing novel. His achievements, though admirable, were nothing extraordinary.

But his presence was….

Like a warm fireplace in a large house, he was a source of comfort. Like a sturdy porch swing or a big-branched elm in the backyard, he could always be found … and leaned upon.

During the turbulent years of my adolescence, Dad was one part of my life that was predictable. Girlfriends came and girlfriends went, but Dad was there.

Football season turned into baseball season and turned into football season again and Dad was always there. Summer vacation, Homecoming dates, algebra, first car, driveway basketball—they all had one thing in common: his presence.

And because he was there life went smoothly. The car always ran, the bills got paid, and the lawn stayed mowed. Because he was there the laughter was fresh and the future was secure.

Because he was there my growing up was what God intended growing up to be: a storybook scamper through the magic and mystery of the world. Because he was there we kids never worried about things like income tax, savings accounts, monthly bills or mortgages. Those were the things on Daddy’s desk.

We have lots of family pictures without him. Not because he wasn’t there, but because he was always behind the camera.

He made the decisions, broke up the fights, chuckled at Archie Bunker, read the paper every evening, and fixed breakfast on Sundays. He didn’t do anything unusual. He only did what dads are supposed to do—be there.

He taught me how to shave and how to pray. He helped me memorize verses for Sunday school and taught me that wrong should be punished and that rightness has its own reward. He modeled the importance of getting up early and of staying out of debt. His life expressed the elusive balance between ambition and self-acceptance.

He comes to mind often. When I smell “Old Spice” after-shave, I think of him. When I see a bass boat, I see his face. And occasionally, not too often, but occasionally when I hear a good joke (the kind Red Skelton would tell), I hear him chuckle. He had a copyright chuckle that always came with a wide grin and arched eyebrows.

Daddy never said a word to me about sex nor told me his life story. But I knew that if I ever wanted to know, he would tell me. All I had to do was ask. And I knew if I ever needed him, he’d be there.

Like a warm fireplace.

Maybe that’s why this Father’s Day is a bit chilly. The fire has gone out. The winds of age swallowed the last splendid flame, leaving only golden embers. But there is a strange thing about those embers, stir them a bit and a flame will dance. It will dance only briefly, but it will dance And it will knock just enough chill out of the air to remind me that he is still in a special way, very present.

by Max Lucado
used by permission

From: “A Good Dad is There for His Children” taken from God Came Near © 1987

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
https://www.maxlucado.com/info/view/about_max_lucado/

FATHERHOOD

A Call to Fatherhood

Godly Fathers – a Biblical perspective

Leaving a Legacy for Christ

How Will You be Remembered?

A Good Dad is “There” for His Children 

Ten Things to Teach your Son about True Manhood – by John Grant

Bible Verses for Fathers

Quotes about Fathers

STORIES Of Dads or about Dads

We Asked You ‘What is Special about Your Father?‘ This is what you said.

My Dad’s Love – Frank shares a true story of how his father’s love affected his life.

How my Son Changed my Priorities.  The Ed Becker story

My Daddy is a Man – Lessons from a 3 year old on what it means to really love our heavenly father.

My Lunch with Dad

Norm Brown’s story – Our first child was born – a daughter. She had cerebral palsy and God has used her to teach me patience, compassion, love and understanding. I can thank God every day for our daughter. She is a special gift from God.

Unending Guilt – a woman couldn’t forgive herself for going against her father’s wishes.

The post A Good Dad is “There” for His Children appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:17

Divine omniscience (God’s all-knowingness) gives no comfort to the ungodly mind, but to the child of God it overflows with consolation. God is always thinking about us, never turns aside His mind from us, and always has us before His eyes. This is precisely what we want and need, because it would be dreadful to exist for a moment beyond the observation of our heavenly Father.

His thoughts are always tender, loving, wise, sensible, and far-reaching. They bring to us countless benefits, so it is a choice delight to remember them. The Lord always did think about His people, and so comes their election and the covenant of grace by which their salvation is secured. And He will always think about them, and this will result in their final perseverance by which they will be brought safely to their final rest.

In all our wanderings the watchful glance of the Eternal Watcher is always fixed on us, and we never roam beyond the Shepherd’s eye. In our sorrows He observes us incessantly, and no painful moment escapes Him. In our trials He perceives all our weariness, and writes in His book all the struggles of His faithful ones. These thoughts of the Lord encompass us in all our paths, and penetrate the innermost region of our being. Not a nerve or tissue, valve or vessel, of our bodily organization is uncared for. All the little ones of our world are in the thoughts of the great God.

Dear reader, is this precious to you? Then hold steadfastly to it. Never be led astray by those philosophic fools who preach about an impersonal God (deism) or talk of self-existent, self-governing matter (naturalism). The Lord lives and thinks about us, this is a truth far too precious for us to ever abandon. Catching the attention of an important person is valued so highly that those who have it counts their blessings. But if that is so, how much more valuable is it to be constantly in the thoughts of the King of kings! If the Lord’s thoughts are on me, all is well, and we may rejoice evermore.

Have you considered that you are constantly in God’s thoughts? Does this truth give you comfort and confidence?

by Charles H. Spurgeon
Used by Permission
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2011

FURTHER READING

• Jesus is Always There!
• God is Thinking about You
• Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

The post Being in God’s Thoughts appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“We have spoken freely to you, …our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.” 2 Corinthians 6:11

We may often feel that God does not answer our questions quickly enough.

But I do have a clear memory of a time when He answered very rapidly. It happened after I had just started a new job.

Day after day, I arrived at work eager to forge relationships with other staff members. I knew I worked well as a team member. I was excited to serve. Yet I encountered such aloofness from my coworkers that I became wounded.

One sunny morning in late September as I was reading my Bible, I paused and asked, “Lord, why did you put me there?”

“I put you there to love.” His clearly articulated purpose shocked me.

Your heart may be open and your actions loving, but the other person’s heart may not be. But God can and does change hearts.

When I moved on from that particular job, one woman’s tribute to me was: “You taught us how to love.”

Who knew? Well, God most certainly did!

Lord Jesus, thank You that through all the unremarkable days in our ordinary lives, Your love is active in us through the reality of Your resurrected life in us, even when we are not aware of it. We are so grateful. Amen.

By Sue Braid
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

Not Hard at All

People Need Loving

Messy Scribble

The Dynamics of God’s Word in Your Heart

The post You Taught Us How to Love appeared first on Thoughts About God.

It can happen in a matter of minutes. A beautiful sunshiny day can become overcast, gloomy, and dank. A wet fog rolls in and blankets everything. It clings to you as you strain to see beyond a few feet in front of you. You feel closed in, almost claustrophobic. Your hands are tempted to swoosh it away like you would debris when swimming in a river or lake. But it closes back in after a millisecond.

Life imitates nature, doesn’t it? I know there have been times my outlook was quite sunny. My world was just about perfect and I felt happy, accomplished, blessed. Then a situation or circumstance hit. Suddenly I felt as if I was encased in a fog. All sense of direction lost. I couldn’t see my way. My dreams and plans vanished in the thickness of the now.

Peter, John and James experienced this. I’d read the transfiguration story in the Gospels many, many times. But recently, Luke 9:34 leaped out at me. And God whispered a lesson to me. Because you see, I’ve been in a fog lately.

Jesus took these men up on the mountain to pray, as told in Luke 9:28-36. It must have been a gorgeous vista. Their Lord had gone up into the mountains to pray before, but always alone. Now He invited them. Not all of the twelve, just these three. Can you see their proud l struts, their smiles? What could be better?  Then they see Jesus’ countenance change into a dazzling white as the two most important, holy people in their tradition, Moses and Elijah, descended to be by his side. Wow. Talk about a Kodak moment! But they didn’t have that modern invention. No phones for selfies. So, Peter suggested they do what their patriarchs had done when encountering God breaking through to earth. Build an altar. Erect a tabernacle. Mark the moment.

“As he [Peter] said this, a cloud came and overshadowed them and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.” (Luke 9:34).  In rolled the blinding fog. Their view of the holiest thing they’d ever witnessed blocked off. The moment gone. Their breaths stolen.

But God didn’t leave them there. “A voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’” (vs.35). Focus not on yourselves, but on Jesus. Erase your self-oriented thoughts. Let Him lead you. This isn’t about Jesus acknowledging you, it’s about you acknowledging my Son.

The good news is that God doesn’t leave us either. Even if we can’t see Him though the circumstances that are clouding our faith, He can still break through to comfort us, correct us, and lovingly guide us back to what we need to be focusing upon–Him. Just as He did for me as I read this passage in Scripture.

Fogs don’t last forever. The sun will break through again. But in the meantime perhaps we are supposed to stop and no longer rely on our own abilities. Instead, let us listen for God’s directive voice. Then when the sun does break through and we can see again, like Peter James and John in verse 36, let us continue to focus on Jesus alone.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

Follow Us On:  Facebook  • ‘X’ Twitter  •  Instagram  • Pinterest

FURTHER READING

“Eye” Problems

Not Against Flesh and Blood

Comfort in Times of Uncertainty

The post Clouded View appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35

The ring was special! It signified she belonged to a group of professionals. As she wore it she was aware of all it represented and of who it said she was.

As a follower of Jesus, you wear a distinguishing mark as well. You wear His love.  Is it visible?

When Jesus came to this earth, He brought a special kind of love. This love is unselfish, compassionate, and unconditional. He loves us just as we are. Our condition is irrelevant to His love. It is a love that picks us up just where we are in life and carries us further than we could ever go on our own.

Jesus gives us His love so we can give it away in the same unselfish, compassionate, unconditional way He gave it to us. He tells us this kind of love will be our trade mark. It will distinguish us as followers of Jesus.

Even in the Church, the Family of God, or as it’s sometimes called, the Body of Christ, we can feel left out of this kind of love. We are often hurt, wounded and worn. This distinguishing mark as His followers sometimes seems missing. Hurting people hurt people. When we are living with hurt we in turn limit this love in our own outpouring.

As we invite Jesus to pour His love into our own wounded souls, we in turn are able to give His love away to others with a generous heart.

Father God, Thank you for Your generous love to me. Thank you that You see the abundance in me rather than all the shortfalls I have. You fill me up. Help me to offer that same gracious love to those I mingle with today. Pour Your love into my heart so I can give it away. May my distinguishing mark be Your love. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Thought: If you carry wounds within your soul that keep love at bay in your life, talk to a mentor who will pray with you. Jesus can bring healing, hope and a fresh display of His love through you.

By Gail Rodgers
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

The God Who Feeds My Soul

Tri Fold Love

The Gift of Love

The post Our Trademark appeared first on Thoughts About God.