View Full Version : A Bible Devotion
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08-31-2008, 11:42 AM
August 31, 2008
God Is An Artist
EPHESIANS 2:10 WEY
10 For we are God's own handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for good works which He has pre-destined us to practise.
Look around. See for yourself. God is an artist extraordinaire!
When we gaze at a beautiful sunset, or look at the infinitely varied forms of life we find surrounding us, and realize that God designed it all, it is easy to be impressed. God is an artist. The most brilliant, creative artist ever to exist.
But when we look at our own lives and consider what God is doing there, we tend to forget that God is an artist. He is making something beautiful out of you and your life. You may not see the beauty now -- you may not even see any design or evidence that God is working -- but you will recognize it someday.
God's intention for you is to be much more beautiful and glorious than a sunset or a school of multi-colored fish. And you will be! God will not fail.
"Wait a minute, preacher. I can see plenty of people that God has failed on. They are anything but "beautiful and glorious" -- inwardly or outwardly."
Yes... today. But God is not finished. Many great works of art take a long time. Don't judge too soon!
SAY THIS: God is an artist and He is working on me. Go ahead, God. Let's see what you can do.
admin
09-01-2008, 08:23 AM
September 1, 2008
The Greater One Is In You
1 JOHN 4:4 ICB
4 My dear children, you belong to God. So you have defeated them because God's Spirit, who is in you, is greater than the devil, who is in the world.
This message is simple and has two parts: God is greater than anything, and because you're a believer in Jesus Christ, He lives in you.
How can anyone argue with the fact that God is greater than any problem? God, the Creator, is above ALL. Nothing is too difficult for Him. Most people believe this.
The second part is more difficult to believe: God is in you. Yet, that is the message of the Bible to believers.
JOHN 14:16-17 NKJ
16 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever--
17 "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
1 CORINTHIANS 6:19 NKJ
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
2 CORINTHIANS 6:16 NKJ
16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people."
Believe the Bible. The Greater One is in you. He is greater than any problem. He is greater than any situation, any difficulty, any obstacle, any enemy, any thing.
SAY THIS: The Greater One is in me. He is greater than anything I now face or ever will face.
admin
09-02-2008, 06:56 AM
September 2, 2008
Why Do Christians Fight So Much?
JOHN 13:34-35 NKJ
34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
Instead of being known for love, Christians are more likely to be known for disagreements and fighting with other Christians.
Why?
Those who fight are displaying their immaturity. Children can be expected to squabble over insignificant things, but adults should not.
Yet even Christian leaders often fight with other Christian leaders.
It is the devil's strategy to get believers in strife because it opens the door to him. Do you really want to open the door to the devil?
JAMES 3:16 KJV
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
God allows us to face the temptation of strife so we can overcome and learn to walk in love. We are continually given the opportunity to walk in love.
God's primary concern now is preparing us to inhabit eternity with Him. His plan is to make us like Jesus (Romans 8:29). To become like Jesus, we must learn to resist the temptation to not walk in love.
SAY THIS: With God's help, I will walk in love. I refuse to fight and be in strife with other Christians.
admin
09-03-2008, 09:17 AM
September 3, 2008
God's Word Is Medicine
God's Word is medicine — for any weakness or sickness in body, mind, finances, family, marriage, etc.
Whatever sickness or disease you suffer from, God's Word can cure it. God's Word is effective for any condition. It works as a preventative as well as a cure. There is no cost and no danger of taking an overdose.
Like any medicine, God's Word must be taken to be effective. It will not work sitting on the shelf. And it has to be taken according to the directions.
But if you will follow God's directions as faithfully as you would follow the directions of a human doctor, you will see wonderful results.
Here are the directions:
PROVERBS 4:20-23 NKJ
20 My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.
In verse 22 the Hebrew word translated health is translated as medicine in some translations.
PSALM 107:20 NKJ
20 He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.
God's Word will heal. It is full of God's power and carries the authority of God who spoke it.
JOHN 8:31-32 NKJ
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
You have the guarantee of Jesus — His Word will produce freedom.
But, you must abide, or continue in His Word. You must feed it in until you know that you know that you know the truth. Then you will act on that truth — and it will make you free.
God's medicine works by taking His Word into your being. You do that by listening to the Word, reading the Word, and speaking the Word.
You must fill your thoughts with the Word of God. The more of God's medicine you take, the better off you will be.
SAY THIS: I will take God's medicine daily and it will bring healing into my life.
admin
09-04-2008, 02:24 PM
September 4, 2008
God Is Working In You
PHILIPPIANS 2:13 LB
13 For God is at work within you, helping you want to obey him, and then helping you do what he wants.
Don't be discouraged. God is at work!
You may not be happy with yourself now, but God is not finished working.
PHILIPPIANS 1:6 NASB
6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
God can complete what He starts. Give Him some time.
HEBREWS 13:20-21 RSV
20 Now may the God of peace...
21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
You will never be able to please God just on your own effort, but through Jesus Christ and His work in you, you WILL become what God wants you to be.
SAY THIS: God is working in me and He always does a good job.
admin
09-05-2008, 05:49 PM
September 5, 2008
We Receive From God By Faith
ROMANS 5:1-2 NKJ
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
All we receive from God is by His grace. We do not deserve it, and we are not able to earn it. It is a gift offered by grace.
But we must access it by faith.
GALATIANS 3:14 NKJ
14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
We receive through faith. Whether we are receiving the Holy Spirit or receiving healing. Whatever we receive from God must be received by faith.
HEBREWS 6:12 NKJ
12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
There are many promises in the Bible. If you want them to be manifest in your life, you must possess them through faith and patience.
MATTHEW 9:29 NKJ
29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you."
This is the statement of Jesus. It is valid for you today just as it was then. You will receive from God according to your faith.
Do not let this discourage you. Rather it should encourage you. Although your faith may not be strong now, you can strengthen it by feeding on the Word of God. It is under your control.
God's Word is faith food. The more you read it, speak it, and hear it, the stronger your faith will grow.
SAY THIS: I will feed on God's Word and build my faith so I can receive all the blessings God has for me.
admin
09-07-2008, 09:06 AM
September 6, 2008
Words Are Spiritual Weapons
REVELATION 12:11 NKJ
11 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
Words are more important than most people realize. All authority is exercised through words.
When it comes to overcoming the enemy of our souls, and all his tactics, we must speak words of faith in line with the Bible.
What Jesus did for you is enough. He defeated the devil for you. However, you must enforce that defeat by speaking and standing in agreement with God. Only then will you see Jesus' victory manifest in your life.
EPHESIANS 6:17 NKJ
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
A sword is a weapon. God's Word is not a weapon when laying on your coffee table. It only becomes a spiritual weapon when you speak it in faith.
You must take it. Your spiritual weapon is speaking the Word of God. You must take the Word and speak it -- just like Jesus did.
SAY THIS: I overcome by what Jesus did, and my words that enforce that victory over the devil.
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September 7, 2008
Fellowship With God
1 CORINTHIANS 1:9 NIV
9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
You need to stop and think about this. God wants to have fellowship with you.
We are not talking about some lower level person. Not just a leader of a country. Not just a billionaire.
God!
Stop and think about God, all His knowledge, all His wealth, all His power -- the ruler of the Universe, and all that He could choose to do.
Why would God desire your company?
Honestly, I don't know. All I can say is that He does, according to the Bible.
But what an opportunity! What a privilege! To fellowship with GOD!
What does fellowship mean? The word used in 1 Corinthians 1:9 is the Greek word "koinonia" (koy-nohn-ee'-ah). Some meanings are fellowship, association, communion, participation, intimacy, partnership, and a having in common.
That is what God wants with you. Koinonia.
The same word is used in the following verse. Notice how the Living Bible translates it.
2 CORINTHIANS 13:14 LB
14 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. May God's love and the Holy Spirit's friendship be yours. Paul
SAY THIS: I will respond to God's call and fellowship with Him.
admin
09-08-2008, 03:43 PM
September 8, 2008
God's Covenant of Words
ISAIAH 59:21 NKJ
21 "As for Me," says the Lord, "this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants," says the Lord, "from this time and forevermore."
According to Isaiah 59:21, part of our covenant with God includes continually having His words in our mouth and in the mouth of our descendants. Not only are we to speak God's Word, but we are to train our descendants to do the same.
God must know something about the importance of the words we speak, that we have not yet understood.
Although a growing number of believers are beginning to realize the importance of the words we speak, the vast majority of Christians have never heard any teaching on this subject. Yet, if you search the Bible, you will see that God puts a major emphasis on what we say.
1 PETER 4:11 NIV
11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God....
Look at the Bible for yourself. Decide for yourself. You will surely decide that the Bible teaches that believers should speak words in agreement with what God says.
What you say IS important.
SAY THIS: I will speak words in agreement with what God has said, and I will teach my descendants to do likewise.
admin
09-10-2008, 11:05 AM
September 9, 2008
God So Loved The World
JOHN 3:16 WEY
16 For so greatly did God love the world that He gave His only Son, that every one who trusts in Him may not perish but may have the Life of Ages.
Do you ever get fed up with the world? Do you just get tired of all the lies and the selfishness?
Do you ever deal with people that you think maybe the world would be better off if they just went to hell right away?
Well, God never thinks that way. God loves the world -- enough to die for it. He has never changed His mind.
JOHN 3:16-17 LB
16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
17 God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.
Remember this the next time you are having difficulty with someone. You are dealing with someone God loves!
No matter how you classify yourself -- God loves you. If you are a sinner or a saint, God loves you. And the good news is that God's love and power will change you into what you should be.
JOHN 3:16 BBE
16 For God had such love for the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever has faith in him may not come to destruction but have eternal life.
Don't ever forget it: God loves people.
SAY THIS: God loves the whole world of people -- including me and everyone I know.
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, September 10, 2008
What Is God Like?
NAHUM 1:7 NIV
7 The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,
Much could be said about God. But the first thing we need to realize is that God is good. He is not a bad guy. He is not against you. He is not your problem, but rather He is the answer to your problems.
Although the world doesn't know what God is like, they desperately need to know Him. Even sadder is the fact that most Christians do not really know what God is like, either.
If you want to know what God is like -- look at Jesus Christ. He perfectly revealed God to us.
JOHN 1:18 TEV
18 No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is the same as God and is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
COLOSSIANS 2:9 Phillips
9 Yet it is in him that God gives a full and complete expression of himself in bodily form.
Would you be content to just read what someone else says marriage is like? Why be content to just listen to what others say God is like? You need to taste and see for yourself.
Have your own relationship with God!
PSALM 34:8 NKJ
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
SAY THIS: The Lord is good and I desire to know Him better.
admin
09-11-2008, 07:54 PM
September 11, 2008
God Can Be Trusted
HEBREWS 10:23 NKJ
23 . . . He who promised is faithful.
The devil is trying to get you to doubt God and His Word. The devil wants you to give up on God, to not trust Him, to not expect Him to do what He said in His Word.
Do not give up! God can be trusted.
Someone who loves you enough to die in your place can be trusted. Someone who created all that you see, and all that you don't see, can be trusted to handle whatever you face.
TITUS 1:2 NASB
2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,
God is not a liar. Whatever He says comes to pass!
1 THESSALONIANS 5:24 NIV
24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
God is trustworthy. Don't be moved by the circumstances. God will not fail you.
SAY THIS: God is worthy of my trust. I trust Him with my past, present, and future.
admin
09-12-2008, 12:26 PM
September 12, 2008
Look At The Stars
PSALM 147:4-5 NIV
4 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.
5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.
Sometimes I wonder how God can be mindful of me when there are so many other people for Him to be concerned about. How can He keep up? Then I am reminded of the scriptures that tell us that God has named all the stars. We don't even know how many stars there are -- scientists say billions and billions -- but God can call them all by name!
God is definitely in a different category than anyone else I know. He is mighty. Compared to us, He has no limit to His understanding or His ability.
ISAIAH 40:26 NIV
26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
PSALM 8:3-4 NIV
3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
When we do consider the heavens, it can make us feel small and insignificant. But, according to God's Word -- we are not.
When I became a parent, I gained some insight into God's love for people. When you have a child, you don't love that child because it is great or powerful, or can do great things for you. You love your child simply because it is your child -- your creation -- a part of you.
Why does God love you -- and the rest of humanity? The best answer we can give is because He created us. He put something of Himself into us. We are His children.
God doesn't love us because of our great achievements -- but simply because we are His.
SAY THIS: If God can remember the names of all the billions of stars, He can remember my name and address, and take care of me.
admin
09-13-2008, 12:26 PM
September 13, 2008
Walk In Love
EPHESIANS 4:31-32 ICB
31 Do not be bitter or angry or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil.
32 Be kind and loving to each other. Forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ.
As a human who has been hurt, you may find it impossible to forgive and walk in love. But as a child of God, with God helping you, you can do it.
God freely forgave you. Now, with His love placed in your heart, you are to act like Him and forgive others.
EPHESIANS 5:1-2 NIV
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children
2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Putting others first is the essence of walking in love. Selfishness is the opposite of walking in divine love.
COLOSSIANS 3:12-13 NIV
12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
If you are having trouble with this, just ask the Lord to work in you and change you. Tell Him you need help.
SAY THIS: I can walk in love because the Lord is my Helper.
admin
09-14-2008, 12:14 PM
September 14, 2008
The Joy Of The Lord Is Your Strength
NEHEMIAH 8:10 NLT
10 ... Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!"
I do not claim it is the only meaning, but one thing the Lord showed me from this verse is that our level of joy is like a thermometer revealing our spiritual strength. If our joy is low -- our spiritual strength is low. That is because the Lord is our strength, and in His presence there is fullness of joy.
PSALM 16:11 NKJ
11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
So, if our joy is low, it means we have not been spending time in God's presence, receiving His strength and help. It means we have got our focus off God and onto something else.
(Although God is always with us, as we worship Him and praise Him and thank Him, God manifests His presence.)
Being gloomy is not a sign of being spiritual. God did not intend for His people to be downcast. Let the world be sad, we have something to rejoice about! Jesus! Heaven!
If you look at your circumstances you may not feel like rejoicing. But if you look at Jesus as He truly is -- you will not be able to keep from rejoicing in Him. Jesus is wonderful!
PHILIPPIANS 4:4 NLT
4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again--rejoice!
SAY THIS: I will rejoice in the Lord!
admin
09-15-2008, 08:48 AM
September 15, 2008
Have A Word Harvest
JOSHUA 1:8 NIV
8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
When God first gave anyone instructions for success, the first thing He said was to always keep His Word on their lips.
Jesus taught that God's Word was a seed (Luke 8:11). Seed produces a harvest — if used properly.
The harvest that God's Word produces in your life is freedom (John 8:31-32). Here are three steps to seeing a harvest of freedom in your life:
1. Plant the seed of the Word by reading it, saying it, and hearing it.
2. Water the seed by reading, speaking, and hearing the Word some more.
3. Gather the harvest by speaking the Word (when you believe it and know it inwardly).
Most people try to skip the first two steps. No wonder they have not had better results! You cannot reap the harvest without planting the seed and watering it.
Feed your faith, in every area you desire to be strong in, by speaking God's Word that covers those subjects.
Remember — if you want to harvest a continuous crop of freedom — you must plant the seed of God's Word continuously.
SAY THIS: I will read, speak, and listen to God's Word.
admin
09-17-2008, 02:16 PM
September 17, 2008
One Thing Is Necessary
LUKE 10:42 Weymouth
42 and yet only one thing is really necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion and she shall not be deprived of it."
This is the word of Jesus. Someone who knows more than we do -- and loves us more than we love ourselves. So, we need to listen and take heed. (After all, we should realize that Jesus did not say things for His own benefit, but to help us.)
It is easy to get busy in life and let ourselves be distracted from what we know is important. That was the case with Martha, the sister of Mary, in the scripture quoted from above. Martha knew she needed to hear what Jesus had to say -- but she also knew that she was responsible for preparing something to eat. What could she do?
We all face such problems -- which are actually choices.
WE choose what our priorities are. WE decide what we will spend our time and energy on. And we should choose wisely.
(Here's a tip: if it won't be important one hundred years from now, it's not that important now, either.)
In this situation, Jesus brought a calming -- not a condemning -- word to Martha. (Jesus is still not interested in condemning people, but in helping them.) In effect, Jesus said to not worry, but to put hearing what God has to say first, and then somehow things will work out with God's help.
Jesus is saying the same message to you, today.
The most important and productive way we can spend time is in getting God's wisdom, guidance, and help. Hearing and heeding His Word will pay rich dividends in this time, as well as for eternity.
Never forget that God can do more for you in one minute, than you could accomplish in a lifetime by yourself.
Don't make the wrong choices.
SAY THIS: I will listen to God's Word. Then, with God's help, I will make it.
admin
09-19-2008, 11:05 AM
September 19, 2008
God Is Not A Killer
John 10:10 NASB
10 "The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.
Ted Turner, the founder of the CNN TV network, tells how he turned against Christianity because of bitterness against God in his younger days. After the death of a family member, the preacher told him that "God took them," and he became bitter over it.
Ted Turner is not alone. Millions of people are mad at God because they believe He has done something wrong -- which He has not!
God is not going around killing people, or stealing from them, or destroying their lives. That is the work of the devil.
God is not guilty!
The greatest deception in history has been the devil convincing people that the things he does are done by God. The devil wants us to believe that God acts like the devil.
But it is a lie!
Of course, to pull this deception off, the devil had to get preachers to spread his lies. No one would believe it if the devil personally preached it.
But just because someone who is called a preacher, a reverend, a pastor, a priest, a bishop, a prophet, or any other title, says something is true -- does not make it true. To find out the truth we need to go to the Bible and study it for ourselves.
Depending on so-called "experts" can lead you astray. Read and study the Bible for yourself.
JAMES 1:17 NLT
17 Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above, who created all heaven's lights. Unlike them, he never changes or casts shifting shadows.
SAY THIS: Whatever is good comes from my God, Who never changes into being bad.
admin
09-21-2008, 02:29 PM
September 21, 2008
You Can Be Free
JOHN 8:31-32 NRSV
31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples;
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
Everyone wants to be free, but many have given up hope that it is possible.
But Jesus gave a promise, valid for you today. You can be free!
Many suffer from physical problems. Jesus' promise includes you!
Some are bound by debt. The promise of Jesus applies to you, also!
Others are bound by fear. You can be free!
Many are bound by destructive habits they are unable to quit. Sin enslaves people, but you can be free from its power!
JOHN 8:34 NRSV
34 Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.
Jesus will set you free from the power of sin. He will not take away your freedom to sin, but He will change you inwardly, so you don't want to sin.
Real freedom is more than being able to do what you want to do. Real freedom is not having to do what you do not want to do.
JOHN 8:36 NRSV
36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
Free indeed!
The answers are in the Word of God: the New Testament.
SAY THIS: I will continue in Jesus' Word, and as He promised, I will know the truth and it will make me free.
admin
09-22-2008, 12:13 PM
September 22, 2008
Tell satan Where To Go
MATTHEW 4:10 NLT
10 "Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say, 'You must worship the Lord your God; serve only him.' "
Jesus spoke directly to the devil -- and so must you.
Many Christians think they should pray about the devil and ask God to deliver them from his attacks. But the Bible is clear -- God has given the authority to believers to resist the devil.
You must control the devil, or he will control you!
Unless you exercise the authority delegated to you by Jesus Christ, the devil will wreak havoc in your life, and everywhere he is allowed to.
LUKE 10:19 NKJ
19 "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Praying to God to stop the devil's operations is no different than my son asking me to take out the trash, after I have told him to do it.
God told us to resist the devil and he would flee. We must believe and act on God's Word.
EPHESIANS 4:27 NKJ
27 nor give place to the devil.
Would God tell us not to let the devil have any place, if we had no say about it? If the devil does have a place in our affairs, it's because we allowed it.
JAMES 4:7 NKJ
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
We must first submit to God, because we are not greater in power than the devil. But submitted to God in Christ Jesus, the devil must back off when we resist him and his works.
SAY THIS: In the Name of Jesus, I command you devil to leave me, my family, and my property alone! Be gone!
admin
09-23-2008, 06:24 PM
September 23, 2008
Heaven Is Our Home
PHILIPPIANS 3:20 LB
20 But our homeland is in heaven, where our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, is; and we are looking forward to his return from there.
Heaven is a real place. In fact, Heaven is ultimate reality. There are real people there, involved in real activities. But most importantly, our wonderful Lord Jesus Christ and our Father God are there.
Sometimes people talk of someone who has departed this life as "having gone to their reward."
Heaven is not a reward.
There will be rewards given out by God, but going to Heaven is not a reward. Heaven is a return to normal.
That's right. Heaven is the way life was supposed to be. Heaven is normal. What we have been experiencing on this sin-infested planet is sub-normal.
But part of the Good News is that Jesus will not leave this place, or us, sub-normal forever. One day, maybe soon, Jesus will return from Heaven and change things on Earth back to what God intended when He created this place.
Everything on Earth, as originally created, was a reflection of the home planet, Heaven. All the beauty and everything good that we enjoy on Earth is but a dim reflection of what Heaven offers.
What makes Heaven our home? Home is where your family is. Home is where you are comfortable. Home is where you have a place to live. Home is where you belong. For the believer in Jesus Christ, Heaven fits all those descriptions.
SAY THIS: Heaven is my home.
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