What Can’t You Give Up?
Bible in a Year:
Genesis 41–42; Matthew 12:1–23Romans 8:39
Today's Scripture & Insight:
“What’s one thing you can’t give up?” the radio host asked. Listeners called in with some interesting answers. Some mentioned their families, including a husband who shared memories of a deceased wife. Others shared they can’t give up on their dreams, such as making a living in music or becoming a mother. All of us have something we treasure dearly—a person, a passion, a possession—something we can’t give up.
In the book of Hosea, God tells us that He won’t give up on His chosen people Israel, His treasured possession. As Israel’s loving husband, God provided her with everything she needed: land, food, drink, clothing, and security. Yet like an adulterous spouse, Israel rejected God and sought her happiness and security elsewhere. The more God pursued her, the further she drifted away (Hosea 11:2). However, though she had hurt Him deeply, He would not give her up (v. 8). He would discipline Israel so as to redeem her; His desire was to re-establish His relationship with her (v. 11).
Today, all God’s children can have the same assurance: His love for us is a love that will never let us go (Romans 8:37–39). If we’ve wandered from Him, He yearns for us to return. When God disciplines us, we can be comforted that it’s a sign of His pursuit, not of His rejection. We are His treasure; He won’t give up on us.
Today's Reflection
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love that never gives up on me. Help me to love You wholeheartedly.
2. NO WEAPON
“If the missile complex is ever torn down, we ask that the bricks be used to build churches.”(1)
This message was found in an empty artillery shell sealed in a brick wall. Christians found it in 1992 while salvaging building materials for a church from an old Soviet missile silo. The message explained the bricks in the silo had come from churches Stalin destroyed after WWII.
Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin “promoted atheism through special atheistic education in schools, anti-religious propaganda, the anti-religious work of public institutions (Society of the Godless), discriminatory laws, and a terror campaign against religious believers.”(2)
How interesting that these bricks returned to their rightful owner--God. The Society of the Godless had a short-lived history, but the Church of the Living God lives on!
If you're a Christian you are also owned by God. And that means no matter what happens to you, God's purposes will not be thwarted.
"'No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,' declares the LORD." Isaiah 54:17
(1) The Missile Silo That Became a Church, Open Doors News Brief, 10-92, page 3
(2) WIKI article on Stalin
Dear Subscribers: As you notice, you are now receiving the full devotion every day in your email. However, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the title link quits working shortly after devotions are sent out. You can read the full devotion here in this email, but to access this particular devotion on site, to pin or bookmark it, you must use this link: No Weapon.
This message was found in an empty artillery shell sealed in a brick wall. Christians found it in 1992 while salvaging building materials for a church from an old Soviet missile silo. The message explained the bricks in the silo had come from churches Stalin destroyed after WWII.
Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin “promoted atheism through special atheistic education in schools, anti-religious propaganda, the anti-religious work of public institutions (Society of the Godless), discriminatory laws, and a terror campaign against religious believers.”(2)
How interesting that these bricks returned to their rightful owner--God. The Society of the Godless had a short-lived history, but the Church of the Living God lives on!
If you're a Christian you are also owned by God. And that means no matter what happens to you, God's purposes will not be thwarted.
"'No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,' declares the LORD." Isaiah 54:17
(1) The Missile Silo That Became a Church, Open Doors News Brief, 10-92, page 3
(2) WIKI article on Stalin
Dear Subscribers: As you notice, you are now receiving the full devotion every day in your email. However, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the title link quits working shortly after devotions are sent out. You can read the full devotion here in this email, but to access this particular devotion on site, to pin or bookmark it, you must use this link: No Weapon.
No comments:
Post a Comment