Meditation

05/19/2022

“They will come with weeping, they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path here they will not stumble, because I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my first born son.” (Jeremiah 31:9)

By creation, God is Father of all peoples, but He has a special deep, fatherly interest in His people, all of them. They are His “first born” whom He created in the Exodus and whom He promised to deliver even from the punishment He imposed. Participation in God’s saving acts is accomplished with tears of joy and prayer of gratitude. As God’s people we should praise Him continually because He loves us and restores us unto Himself. The remnant exists because of God’s love, not because of human qualifications or accomplishments.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, today we recognize the gift of praising Almighty God with tears of joy and prayers of gratitude for all He has blessed us with. Today we continue to pray for those who are suffering in body, mind, and/or spirit, with friends, family, for those we don’t know, especially the people in Ukraine, as they are fighting for their very lives and way of life. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“To put your fears to rest, place your faith in Jesus.”

KNOWING GOD:

“Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. ‘For the last fourteen days,’ he said,

‘You have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—-you haven’t eaten anything. How I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Noe one of you will lose a single hair from his head.’ After he said this, he took some bread and gave thank to God in front of them all. Then he broke it an began to eat. They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves.” (Acts 27:33-36)

Paul’s great faith was infectious. Faith is revealed in gratitude even as it can be in petition. Paul customarily gave thanks for food, just as did Jesus, and everyone around him responded by taking some food to eat, to regain their strength.

I AM:

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.” (1^st Timothy 1:12-13)

Thanks was usually for the recipients. Here it was for God’s merciful action in Paul’s life which enabled him to serve Christ. Saul of Tarsus who becamePaul the apostle to the Gentiles is what we would call exhibit A of God’s grace in Christ Jesus. The grace which saved Paul can save us all. No person is too evil to be saved through God’s grace.

2ND THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. Sh was very old, she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, an hen was a widow until she was eighty-four. Se never left the temple but worshiped night and day fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:36-38)

Anna was one who had been called by God to prayer and fasting every day, as she never left the temple. Upon seeing Joseph and Mary and Jesus as his parents brought him to the temple as a first born dedication, she engaged them by praising God and spoke to the about Jesus to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. Remember earlier, they had encountered Simeon (verses 28-32) and said, ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.

Jesus’ coming brought decision time. People must accept Him and rise to salvation or reject Him and fall to judgment. He would suffer rejection, which would bring His mother suffering also. It is not too late to accept Him and claim eternal life and salvation, or the alternative is judgment through rejecting Him. Your choice beloved, no one can decide for you, this is an individual and very personal decision only you can make.