Meditation

10/16/2020

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me, all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm23:1-6)

Beloved, God is the loving Shepherd and caring Host. At the beginning, the sheep looked to the Shepherd for leadership, guidance, and protection.

In the end the guest, now situated securely in the safety of he Lord’s sanctuary, described the abundance of eternal provision. Life faces us with dangers and enemies. We can face life with confidence in our God. We gain confidence through prayers of confidence.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, the psalmist affirmed God’s tender presence during some of he most painful events in life. Personal hardship revealed that God is a present help during even the most difficult of times. God is revealed here not as one who changes bad times but as the One who remains with His children throughout the hardest of times. Helps us, O Lord, that no matter what our circumstances, You will remain near us throughout. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“God is more interested in our character than the size of our bank accounts.”

KNOWING GOD:

“What other nation is so great as to hear their gods, near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him?” (Deuteronomy4:7)

God made Himself available to Israel as a continuous presence in visible signs (cloud, pillar of fire) and in the spoken word. This presence became real as the individuals prayed and God answered. Prayer makes God’s presence real for the individual.

I AM:

“In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.” (John16:26-27)

Jesus’ name is the legal warrant for the prayers of Christians. The use of the name presupposes that the person praying is manifesting the character of Jesus in his or her request and that the request will represent a continuation of the work of Christ.

Love occupies the central place in the relationship of believers and God. The Father loves believers because they have loved Jesus. Jesus Himself came as the expression of God’s love to the lost. The key New Testament is the love of God the Father. His love is displayed to the lost, to believers, and to the Son who gave Himself in sacrifice to save the lost. Love, in turn, becomes the foremost characteristic of Christians and is their badge of identification as the people of Jesus Christ.

Second Thought of the Day:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believed in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John3:16)

The most profound expression of he love of God for us is the gift of His only Son to be our Savior. The word translated love here is one of special significance, meaning a love that seeks to give itself away in behalf of its object. It is a love that seeks the best interests of its object while seeking nothing for itself in return.

There is a Greek term, Agape’ which translates to one seeking the very best for another, without an expectation of receiving anything in return. The priority of God purpose to save over judgment or condemnation. For this reason God is declared to be love. Clear?