Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.  I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. —Romans 8:17-18  Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we…

But will God really dwell on earth with humans? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! —II Chronicles 6:18              The temple Solomon built for God was 90 feet long, 30 feet wide and 45 feet high and Solomon obviously realized that such a structure could not be big enough to contain Him.  Solomon said, “The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!”  Can a drinking cup contain the whole ocean?  How could a temple contain the eternal Lord God Almighty?              And yet, and this is mind boggling, Jesus said, “Destroy…

By your hand save me from such people, Lord, from those of this world whose reward is in this life. —Psalm 17:14              There are people who would like to do harm to followers of Jesus.  The Psalmist is asking our Lord for protection from such people and we should as well.  Not only for ourselves, but also for brothers and sisters in other parts of the world.  Oh, may we do so.              Yes, there are people whose reward is only in this life.  The life they now live is the closest they will ever get to heaven because they do not want to follow and live for Jesus.  They…

Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge.  I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” —Psalm16:1-2 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. —Proverbs 19:21              Surely, this is the safest place to be— to take refuge in our Lord God Almighty.  We are to know this as well— that “apart from you I have no good thing.”  This truth is again repeated by Jesus when He said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;…

He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. —Romans 4:25 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ —Romans 5:1 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is…

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” Psalms 14:1              The fool converses with himself and comes to an inward conclusion that “there is no God.”  Look at the— The fool is truly a fool if he can look at all these things and not see design and understand that behind every design is a designer.  A painting is painted by a painter.  A building is built by a builder.  Pottery is formed by a potter…  How can one look all around us at creation and not believe that a Creator created it all.  Yes, for sure, He is way beyond us and our understanding, but that does…

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. —Psalm 13:5              I am so glad, Lord, that Your love is unfailing toward me.  If it was, the I would have no hope.  My heart also rejoices in Your salvation.  Again, without it, I would have no hope.  But I do trust in Your unfailing love and I do rejoice in Your salvation.  How marvelous this is that the Creator of all things loves me and has saved me from my sin.  I think of His magnitude and His awesomeness and am astounded that He would even consider me, but I am thankful that He does…

For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.  All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”  “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.”  “The poison of vipers is on their lips.”  “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”  “Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.”  “There…

The Lord will do what is good in his sight. —I Chronicles 19:13              Our Lord always does “what is good in his sight.”  The way He sees things is quite different than the way we see things.  We may be seeing something from our vantage point and wonder how it could be good, but we do not have the big picture.  Only our Lord God Almighty has the big picture.  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).  Will we trust Him with the things we do not understand?  Will…

David returned home to bless his family. —I Chronicles 16:43 Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Lord, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever.” —II Chronicles 17:27              Lord, you have so blessed me.  You have taken me from the dark life I used to live and have transferred me in Your kingdom.  Not only have you blessed me, but You have blessed my family as well.  I thank You for each of my children that have called on Your Name and are living for You.  I thank You that they now…