You are the One we look to for hope and healing. You are the One who gives new life so appealing.
You are the One who brings wholeness from brokenness. You are the One who restores ruins and messes.
You are the One, the mender of breaches. You are the One for whom my soul gladly reaches.
You are the One who shelters and saves. You are the One who raises the dead from graves.
You are the One, all-encompassing truth. By faith, my sight needs no visible proof.
For You are the One who saves from eternal fire. You are the One, my glory and holy desire.
You are the One who bears us on eagle’s wings. You are the One who carries us forever to eternity.
You are the One who saves to the utmost. You are the One in whom my soul gladly boasts.
You are the One, the only one God true and right, to Whom none can compare, my soul’s joyful delight.
“To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?” Isaiah 40:18
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:” Deuteronomy 6:4
“I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.” Isaiah 45:5, 6
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11
Not displayed in decorated windows. Nor purchased from the store shelf. Nay, the only purchasing to be done is His purchasing you for Himself.
For you, the Savior has come. For you, the prophecy fulfilled. For you, heaven’s glory lay in a manger. For you, born by God’s perfect will.
The greatest Christmas gift in history to be received is the truest reason for Christmas, found in Christ, the newborn King.
Were it not for us, He would not have come. Were it not for us, no storied nativity. The begotten Son, God in the flesh, was born to save us from sin’s captivity.
December 25th is waited for with hope throughout the year of giving and receiving gifts. But on that holy night, at the angel’s announcement of the Lord’s birth, the shepherds working the sheep in the field knew the real gift of Christmas had been waited for much longer.
“For unto you.” Let the beauty of those words speak to your heart. The gift of Jesus was given for you, for us, for me.
God’s gift, wrapped in swaddling clothes at His birth (Luke 2:12), and linen at His burial (John 19:40), was personally wrapped and given for failing humanity.
May we ponder, as Mary did that night, the real gift of Christmas a little more closely this year. I pray that you will feel the Father’s love as He presents this Gift to you for unwrapping. I pray you would know the heart of the Father more fully as you receive His “indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15) for yourself.
Christ was given, by the hand of God, for all who were, and for all who were to come: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17).
For this Christmas, and all to come, no Christmas gift could be or should be cherished more, than this gift of God’s great love (John 3:16).
At the trial of His crucifixion, Jesus spoke these words:
“To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” John 18:37
The gift was born for you.
Thank You, Father God, for the personal gift of Jesus Christ into my life. Neither words nor time would be enough to express my deepest gratitude for the Savior. Your Gift has intervened in my life and saved me, helped me, protected me, and blessed me far more than I deserve. My thank You seems inadequate for this season, but humbly thank You, I do, and I praise You for the real Gift of Christmas in my life.
More Reference Scriptures:
“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14
“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 1:23
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” 1 Timothy 3:16
Please Note: Ads below or referenced on this site are prefabricated and mass-produced (of which I currently have no control over) and DO NOT necessarily represent the views and/or beliefs of this site and its admin.
The cares of this life can be overpowering, but Jesus says, “Come.”
Through weariness and toil, Jesus says, “Come.”
The help you seek cannot be found in another, so, “Come.”
The tears you are crying are recorded in His holy register and ready to be bottled according to His blessed promise, so, “Come.”
The weightiness of the heart finds the consolation to be lifted and revived – “Come.”
The rest your soul desperately needs will encounter the Savior when you “Come.”
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
“Come” is your invitation from the heart and mouth of the Savior to get near to Him.
For the sinner, come and find the source of your salvation.
For the saint, come and find your rest and strength.
None is exempt from the need to come and be where Jesus is. None is excluded from the need for this heavenly supply. As the fervent crowds pushed through the doorway, or as Mary planted herself at the Savior’s feet refusing to be moved for the mundane, “come” is your welcoming address to enjoy and draw strength from the Savior, He who was pushed away and rejected that you would not be an outcast, but welcomed to come near. So, “Come.”
Thank You, Father God, for You rent the veil and tore forever this blockade. You provided the way, and it has been opened wide so we can “Come.” Amen.
“My heart trusted in him, and I am helped.” Psalm 28:7
Have you been helped? Where has the trust of your heart lain? Most forget that trust is not developed in times of peace and pleasure. Instead, true trust is developed during difficulties, disappointments, and pain. It is during these times when the faith of our hearts must be tied tighter still to that solid Rock upon which we are positioned through the blood stained banner. It is during adversity when we must purposely, and with great intention, place ourselves, our desires, and our troubles behind the Shield that never fails.
He is there, my friend, as our saving grace. He is the hope that will never be moved – even through eternity’s eternity. He is the place upon which we stand when all else fades away. He is the One who hears the voice of your cry and sees what you are carrying in your heart.
He is our strength and our refuge. ”In the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me,” Psalm 27:5. When enemies gnash their teeth or when tears overwhelm your heart – in Him, we are covered and safe. Nothing will have the final say over His authority, power, and might. If affliction has touched you, it is on a short leash and can only go so far as the Lord allows.
Be encouraged in He who is your help. You may not understand everything that is unfolding, or even what the end of the story may be, but let your heart rejoice with David because we know where our help comes from (Psalm 28:7).
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:1, 10
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1, 2
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
Please Note: Ads below or referenced on this site are prefabricated and mass-produced (of which I currently have no control) and DO NOT necessarily represent the views and/or beliefs of this site and its admin.
“Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end,” John 13:1
The love of Jesus is unwavering and our rock-solid truth to stand upon through the storms and trials of life.
Eventually, the love of friends fades. As years go by, we grow up and move on with our lives. Even some familial relationships can wane with the passing of time. But there is one love that never quits on you. His promise was to never leave you nor forsake you, Heb. 13:5. He showed His devotion to His disciples right up to the end. And daily, He shows His devotion to each and every one of us by continually being there for us, loving us, interceding for us, and hearing us when we call.
I am personally amazed at His undying devotion to us. Through all of our faults, shortcomings, and mess, He still stays committed to us even “to the end.” This is a source of comfort and reassurance for them that are His. Despite the tragedies of life or how much we feel like we are not measuring up, we have a Savior, nay a friend that sticks closer than a brother, Pro. 18:24.
The times and tides of life may ebb and flow, come and go, but Jesus is our stable and trustworthy source never to be moved. He is committed completely to you in love. Somebody once said, “It isn’t over ‘til it’s over!” And since we are here today, alive and with breath in our bodies, it’s not the end. Bolster your faith and encourage your heart today in the great truth that no matter what it may look like right now, Jesus loves you to the end!
What are you holding? What do you possess? What is important to you? Where does your love rest?
There are many parts of us. And while many parts make us us, there is only one God, and He is to be over all. Not just over all in the sense of His complete Sovereignty – but over your all, personally.
So, I ask you again, what is near and dear to you? What do you treasure and hold in high regard? There are no areas to be withheld from Him. Wherever He wills, He can touch. But how do we respond when He touches it?
As I ponder those questions, I am reminded of the time when adverse circumstances struck Job’s life in many different ways, all at the same time (Job 1-2). Job’s response may seem mind-boggling to some for we are told in the midst of it all, he “worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:20-21).
Job may not have understood everything, and he may have felt sorrow and experienced grief, but even in this, he surrendered everything he held dear in his choice to worship. He held on to his integrity and “In all this did not Job sin with his lips” (Job 2:10).
How does our heart respond when that which is dear to us has faced times of crisis? Do we really surrender all to Him, trust, and move forward even if our steps seem heavier than before? Or do we shut down as we try to hold on to the very last thread of that beloved thing?
To “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength” (Mark 12:30) means there is to be no part of me, or what I am, or what I have that comes before God. Everything else must be willingly surrendered so that my love for Him shines first.
Please Note: Ads below or referenced on this site are prefabricated and mass-produced (of which I currently have no control over) and DO NOT necessarily represent the views and/or beliefs of this site and its admin.
GRACE: God’s five-lettered golden word. We don’t deserve it, but His unmerited favor toward us gives it to us. Grace was 100% His idea. We can roll over in our heads to see how we are fit to earn it, but you will not find the answer there. We can search the paths of our days and try to find the good that pats us on the back, making us deserving of this honor, but you won’t find it there either. You will only find true grace in the God of all grace, Himself. He extends it to us, never based on us, but on who He is and what He has done for us.
Grace is not to be taken for granted or abused. Instead, it is to be appreciated and respected as the treasure it is. Every day we are allotted time and space here, it is a day where we see grace working for us and in us. Lord, we thank You today for every drop of grace You have bestowed in our lives. We thank You for being the God of all grace.
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” 2 Timothy 1:9
Please Note: Ads below or referenced on this site are prefabricated and mass-produced (of which I currently have no control over) and DO NOT necessarily represent the views and/or beliefs of this site and its admin.
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11
Not displayed in decorated windows. Nor purchased from the store shelf. Nay, the only purchasing to be done is His purchasing you for Himself.
For you, the Savior has come. For you, the prophecy fulfilled. For you, heaven’s glory lay in a manger. For you, born by God’s perfect will.
The greatest Christmas gift in history to be received is the truest reason for Christmas, found in Christ the newborn King.
Were it not for us, He would not have come. Were it not for us, no storied nativity. The begotten Son, God in the flesh, was born to save us from sin’s captivity.
December 25th is waited for with hope throughout the year of giving and receiving gifts. But on that holy night, at the announcement of the Lord’s birth by the angel, the shepherds working the sheep in the field knew the real gift of Christmas had been waited upon for much longer.
“For unto you.” Let the beauty of those words speak to your heart. The gift of Jesus was given for you, for us, for me.
God’s gift, wrapped in swaddling clothes at His birth (Luke 2:12), and linen at His burial (John 19:40), was personally wrapped and given for failing humanity.
May we ponder, as Mary did that night, the real gift of Christmas a little more closely this year. I pray that you will feel the Father’s love as He presents this Gift to you for unwrapping. I pray you would know the heart of the Father more fully as you receive His “indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15) for yourself.
Christ was given, by the hand of God, for all who were, and for all who were to come: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17).
For this Christmas, and all to come, no Christmas gift could be or should be cherished more, than this gift of God’s great love (John 3:16).
At the trial of His crucifixion, Jesus spoke these words:
“To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” John 18:37
The gift was born for you.
Thank You, Father God, for the personal gift of Jesus Christ into my life. Neither words nor time would be enough to express my deepest gratitude for the Savior. Your Gift has intervened in my life and saved me, helped me, protected me, and blessed me far more than I deserve. My thank You seems inadequate for this season, but humbly thank You, I do, and I praise You for the real Gift of Christmas in my life.
More Reference Scriptures:
“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14
“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 1:23
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” 1 Timothy 3:16
Please Note: Ads below or referenced on this site are prefabricated and mass-produced (of which I currently have no control over) and DO NOT necessarily represent the views and/or beliefs of this site and its admin.
“And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.
Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the Lord build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it.” Ezekiel 36:35-36
Archaic and ancient, yet there is beauty within. Rubbled and ruined, but potential peeks through with the willingness to start again, to be reborn with purpose once more.
I must say, I am drawn to history and design in this manner. I love to learn about places of old. I am drawn to those shows and documentaries that feature taking these older places and structures, revitalizing them, restoring their ancient beauty, and making them livable and valuable once more.
If you are inclined to watch such programming, you will see that meticulous care is taken in the restoration process. And the older a place is, with more original features, the chances are the work that needs to be done cannot be done by just any rebuilder. Instead, those who are trained to deal with period pieces and materials are called in to work with their expertise on the structure to remake it to be as close to the original as possible.
God has always been in the rebuilding business. From the time of the Fall, and the Flood, and many points in between and beyond, though His people went through adversity, it was done with the intent of a new and fresh start from their sins and mistakes.
In ancient captivity, the children of Israel lived in bondage to the Babylonians due to their own sins and wayward ways. But God, in this chapter, looked forward to a time of restoration; a time of renewal for His people. A time and a moving that will bring glory to His name and not the dishonor that had been promoted by His people’s unholy living (36:21).
God was going to gather His people from where they had been dispersed and bring them back home (36:24), and the great rebuilding process would begin. Beginning with Cyrus (Ezra 1), followed by the help of other kings, God’s people would return home physically and spiritually, and the ruins would be rebuilt and lives would be restored in their relationship with God.
To accomplish this, God was going to give them a new heart and a new spirit (36:26-27). God was not just satisfied with cities becoming occupied again, but He wanted inner transformation. He wanted hearts that would make Him feel welcomed once more. A heart that would be in love with the Father and His ways once more. Those were the ruins God was most interested in rebuilding. The outward buildings were nice, but the new inner man who was being transformed, this is the real beauty God wants to see. To Him, this matters the most.
When David sought to be restored, he prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). He wanted to be restored to the Father because his own sins caused a separation. He wanted to be rebuilt from the inside out.
Today, our heavenly Father is still rebuilding ruins. Much like David, when a heart turns to Him in true humility and repentance, they can be restored. Jesus Christ became the way for this to happen: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17); “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
When we come to Him and accept Him as Savior (Acts 2:38-39; John 3:5; Romans 6:4), He takes the old us and makes us something new: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17), and we are ruins no more.
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3) – this is where the rebuilding begins.
Please Note: Ads below or referenced on this site are prefabricated and mass-produced (of which I currently have no control over) and DO NOT necessarily represent the views and/or beliefs of this site and its admin.
“Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord: This gate of the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter.” (Psalm 118:19-20)
Gates give entrance. Gates keep out intruders and ne’er do wells. Gates offer protection and security for all who dwell within her walls.
Gates ask if you belong here. They want to see if you are identified as someone worthy of trust to be in her enclosure. They make sure you have permission to be here to enjoy the treasure within.
Many fancy themselves going through those pearly gates one day (Revelation 21:21). Many claim they will have immediate entrance to the eternity within.
Friend, if you want to enter, make sure you have the right key – make sure you have aligned your life, your heart, and your soul with the right point of access. And that right point of access is through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Once, Jesus taught, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (John 10:9). If our deep desire is to walk through those future gates, please know, dear soul, that none can enter without Jesus.
As the shepherds of old would lay their bodies across the entrance of the sheepfold (compare John 10:7), Jesus Christ has laid His body on Calvary’s cross that one day we might enter the fold of the righteous. That one day, we might be where He is.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Jesus is, and I cannot express this enough, dear heart, the only way in. He is the only way you will ever experience that spiritual freedom you are looking for. He is the only way to be truly delivered. Through Him, is the only way to salvation: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). And He is the only way to gain that holy admission to heaven.
When He becomes your Lord, you have access to the treasure within, and those gates will be opened for you, and you can say with holy confidence the words of the psalmist: “Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord: This gate of the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter” (Psalm 118:19-20).
Access the right key, Jesus Christ, and the doors will be opened for you.
“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.” (Psalm 24:7-10)
Word For Life Says... 