“For indeed I will do you a favor for the sake of your father Jonathan.” — 2 Samuel 9:7
In the insightful article “Does my son know you?” sports journalist Jonathan Tjarkes wrote about his battle with cancer and asked that other people take care of his wife and young son. The thirty-four-year-old author wrote this article six months before his death. His father also died at a young age. Thiarks, a sincere Christian, shared in the article passages from the Holy Scriptures, which speak about the care of widows and orphans (Exodus 22:22; Isaiah 1:17; James 1:27). Addressing his friends, he wrote: “When I see you in heaven, I will ask only one thing: “Have you been kind to my son and my wife?… Does my son know you?””
King David also inquired: “Is there anyone left of Saul’s house? I will do him favor for Jonathan’s sake” (2 Sam. 9:1). They brought Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, to the king, who due to an accident (see 2 Sam. 4:4) became “crooked in his feet” (v. 3). David said to him: “Do not be afraid, because I will really do you favor for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will give you all the field of your father Saul. And you will always eat bread at my table” (2 Sam. 9:7). David showed loving concern for Mephibosheth, and it seems that it was then that he really got to know him (see 2 Sam. 19:25-31).
The Lord Jesus called us to love others as He loved us (John 13:34). So, with His help, we will get to know and love others.
How can you learn more about others? What does it mean for you to love them as God loves you?
Heavenly Father, help me to glorify You with my sincere desire to love others.
Author: Our Daily Bread
“That God… may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to know Him.” — Ephesians 1:17
In 2001, a premature boy named Christopher Duffley surprised doctors by surviving. At the age of five months, he entered the foster care system, and then he was adopted by his aunt’s family. The teacher noticed that four-year-old Christopher, although blind and diagnosed with autism, had perfect hearing. Six years later, Christopher took the stage in the church and sang “Open the eyes of my heart”. The video has collected millions of views on the Internet. In 2020, Christopher shared his goals of serving as an advocate for people with disabilities. He continues to prove that the possibilities are endless if the eyes of his heart are open to God’s plan.
The Apostle Paul praised the Christians in Ephesus for their bold faith (Eph. 1:15-16). He asked God to give them “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to know Him” (v. 17). Paul prayed that the Lord would “enlighten” the eyes of their hearts so that they would understand the hope and inheritance promised by God to His people (v. 18).
Asking God to reveal Himself to us, we can know Him more and confidently proclaim His Name, power and authority (vv. 19-23). With faith in Jesus and love for all of God’s people, we can live a life that affirms His infinite possibilities. So, we ask Him to keep our eyes open.
How has God helped you overcome obstacles or limitations? How does understanding His truth, character, and love change the way you view difficulties?
Mighty and merciful God, please open the eyes of my heart so that I can love You and live with a bold faith that leads others to worship You.
Author: Sosheel Dixon
“Life and death I have set before you, blessing and cursing. And you choose life.” — Deuteronomy 30:19
A few weeks after the death of a close friend, I spoke with her mother. I did not dare to ask how she was doing, because I thought it inappropriate, because she was in grief. Eventually, I pushed aside my hesitation and simply asked how she was doing. And this is what she said in response: “Listen, I choose joy.”
Her words helped me get through the unpleasant circumstances in my life that day. They also reminded me of Moses’ words to the Israelites at the end of Deuteronomy. Shortly before the death of Moses and the entry of the Israelites into the promised land, God wanted to remind them that they have a choice: “I have set before you life and death… choose life” (Deut. 30:19). The people could obey God’s laws and live well or leave Him and suffer the consequences – “death and evil” (v. 15).
We also have to choose how to live. Or we choose joy by believing and relying on God’s promises for our lives. Or we choose to focus on the negative and difficult aspects of our life journey, allowing them to rob us of joy. We need to rely on the help of the Holy Spirit and choose joy, knowing that “all things work together for good to those who love God, who are called by His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
How do you choose joy despite your current circumstances? How similar is the choice of joy to the choice of life that God told the Israelites about?
Dear God, Giver of joy, please help me to follow You and trust You.
Author: Katara Patton
“Now we see as if in a mirror, in a riddle, but later – face to face.” — 1 Corinthians 13:12
An ophthalmologist helped three-year-old Andreas choose his first glasses. “Look in the mirror,” he said. Andreas looked at his reflection and then turned to his father with a happy and loving smile. Then Andreas’ father gently wiped away the tears that rolled down his son’s cheeks and asked: “What happened?” Andreas hugged his father by the neck and said: “I see you.” He moved back a little, bent his head and looked into his father’s eyes. “I see you!”
When we prayerfully study the Bible, the Holy Spirit helps us see Jesus, “the image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15). However, even with the sight given by the Holy Spirit and the constant knowledge of the Scriptures, we still only see a glimpse of God’s infinite majesty. When our time on earth ends or when Jesus fulfills His promise to return, we will see Him in all his fullness (1 Cor. 13:12).
In that joyful moment, we will not need any special glasses, because we will see Christ face to face and know Him as He knows each of us, the beloved members of His body, the church. The Holy Spirit will fill us with faith, hope, and love, so that we may remain steadfast until we see the loving and living Savior and say, “I see You, Jesus! I see You!”
What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you recently while reading the Bible? How has growing in the knowledge of God changed you?
Lord Jesus, please help me see You more clearly and know You better until You call me home or come again.
Author: Sosheel Dixon
“And God said: “Let the water bring forth… fowl that fly above the earth under the firmament of heaven.” — Genesis 1:20
An international research group has created a drone that imitates the movements of a specific bird – a swift. These birds can fly at a speed of up to 145 kilometers per hour and are capable of hovering, diving, turning quickly and stopping suddenly. However, the ornithopter drone is still inferior to the bird. One of the researchers said that birds “have multiple sets of muscles that allow them to fly incredibly fast, fold their wings, twist, open their feather slits, and conserve energy.” He admitted that his team’s efforts have so far been able to reproduce only “10 percent of biological flight.”
God has endowed the creatures of our world with various amazing abilities. Observing them can become a source of wisdom for us. Ants teach us to gather resources, badgers show the value of safe shelter, and locusts teach us that there is strength in numbers (Prov. 30:25-27).
The Bible says that God “by His wisdom firmly established the universe” (Jer. 10:12), and that at the end of each step in the creation process, He confirmed that what He created was “good” (Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31). God, who created “birds that fly above the earth under the firmament of heaven” (v. 20), gave us the ability to combine His wisdom with our reasoning. Think today about what the exquisite design of the natural world can teach you.
What in God’s creation fascinates you the most? What does it tell you about God’s wisdom?
Dear Heavenly Father, help me, reflecting on Your creation, to see in it the manifestation of Your wisdom.
By Jennifer Benson Schuldt
? 10/01/2023 10:05 a.m. The #broadcast of Prayer for Urayna began on the Church of God’s Glory channel | 1/10/2023: https://youtu.be/nxETvLoWYT0
“For the Lord, your God, is God in the heavens above and on the earth of fate.” —Joshua 2:11
In its films, Hollywood shows handsome superspies who drive around in luxurious Aston Martins and other expensive cars. But John Mendez, the former head of the CIA, paints the opposite picture. In real life, an agent should be a “little gray man” – inconspicuous and unremarkable. “The special services need people who you would look at and immediately forget,” he says. The best agents are the ones who look the least like them.
Two Israelite spies entered Jericho and came to a woman named Rahab, who hid them from the royal guard (Ezekiel 2:4). At first glance, she was the least suitable for the role of “God’s agent”. She had as many as three negatives: she was a Canaanite, a woman, and, ultimately, a harlot. However, Rahab believed in the living God. “The Lord, your God, He is God in the heavens above and on the earth of destiny,” she told the spies (v. 11) and hid them in bundles of linen on the roof. The Lord rewarded her faith. Joshua spared the lives of Rahab and all her relatives (Ezek. 6:24).
Sometimes we may feel that we are less suitable than others for God’s work. Perhaps we have physical limitations or feel we are not gifted enough or have a questionable past. But history is full of people like Rahab, whom the Lord entrusted with a special service in His Kingdom. Rest assured, He has great purposes even for those who seem least fit for it.
What makes you feel “in the background”? What task do you think God has dedicated to you?
God, help me to be ready to respond to Your call and fulfill Your will
Author: Kenneth Petersen
“He will be merciful to you at the voice of your supplication.” — Isaiah 30:19
If the baby cries, it means that he is tired or hungry. However, according to research by doctors at Brown University, some features of newborn crying can provide important information about other problems as well. With the help of a computer program, the pitch, volume and clarity of children’s cries were studied. Now these data allow us to draw conclusions about the state of the child’s central nervous system.
According to the prophecy of Isaiah, God listens to the pleas of His chosen ones, determines the state of their hearts and responds to them with manifestations of grace. The inhabitants of Judea did not want to listen to the prophet, but sought salvation from their enemies in an alliance with Egypt (Is. 30:1-7). To this God spoke that if they continued to resist, the result would be defeat and humiliation. But at the same time, – said Isaiah, – “the Lord will wait to have mercy on you, and… rise up to show mercy to you” (v. 18). Salvation will come, but only in response to the cry of repentance and faith. If God’s people call out to their Creator, He will forgive their sins and renew their spiritual strength and vitality (vv. 8-26).
The same applies to us today. When our cry of repentance or cry of faith reaches the ears of our Heavenly Father, He listens, forgives, and renews our joy and hope.
Why do we want to look for help not in God, but somewhere else? What happens when we turn to God and repent to Him?
God, forgive me for not looking to You for safety and protection. Please restore my love for You.
Author: Marvin Williams
“Finally, be like-minded, compassionate, brotherly, merciful…” – 1 Peter 3:8
Making benches is not part of James Warren’s professional duties. However, he took up this craft when he saw a woman in Denver sitting in dust on the ground while waiting for a bus. This is humiliating, Warren thought. And so the 28-year-old HR consultant found some boards, built a bench and placed it at the bus stop. They immediately started using it. James learned that there were about nine thousand stops in the city, and many of them had nowhere to get on. He made another bench, then several more, and on each he wrote: “Be kinder.” What did he long for? “To make people’s lives a little better,” James replies.
This is called “compassion” – a feeling that moves us to help people in their needs, as Jesus did. When a crowd of people gathered near Him, He “had mercy on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd” (Mr. 6:34). Compassion went into action: Jesus “healed their weak” (Mt. 14:14).
This feeling should guide us as well. “Clothe on… in sincere charity,” urged the apostle Paul (Col. 3:12). What will we get in return? Warren says, “I feel like I’m living for nothing. It’s like air in the tires of my car.”
There are many needs around us, and God will draw our attention to them. Let these needs motivate us to translate compassion into concrete actions so that people can see the love of Christ in action.
Have you ever helped people with their needs? What can you say about compassion?
When I see pain or need, Lord, fill my heart with the compassion of Christ and move me to action.
Author: Patricia Raybon |
? 09/24/2023 10:06 AM The Church of God’s Glory channel has started a #broadcast After all, you are saved by grace | Pastor Oleksandr Koltukov 24.09.2023: https://youtu.be/tU0C06Zf63c
