AUGUST 27

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES

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James 1:17

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” 

HELEN STEINER RICE

Thank You, God, for little things that come unexpectedly, to brighten up a dreary day that dawned so dismally.

Thank You, God for sending a happy thought my way, to blot out my depression on a disappointing day.

Thank You, God, for brushing the “dark clouds” from my mind, and leaving only “sunshine” and joy of heart behind.

O, God, the list is endless of things to thank You for,  but I take them all for granted and unconsciously ignore …

 That EVERYTHING I THINK OR DO, EACH MOVEMENT  THAT I MAKE, EACH MEASURED RHYTHMIC HEARTBEAT, EACH BREATH OF LIFE I TAKE….

Is something You have given me for which there is no way for me in all my smallness to in any way repay.

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This month we will continue the book, “Whatever Happens – How to Stand Firm in Your Faith When the World is Falling Apart.”  By a contemporary author of many best-selling Christian books, Robert J. Morgan.  He took care of his wife when she had MS, until she went home to her Savior.  “He knows of which he speaks.”  I pray that this book blesses you.

Philippians 4:19

 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

WHATEVER HAPPENS …..CONSIDER YOURSELF WORTH MILLIONS

Ephesians 1:18

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people.”

The phrase “the eyes of your heart” is unusual.  It’s found nowhere in the Old Testament or in other Jewish literature.  It is unique to Paul, but how descriptive.  Just as our bodies have eyes that let us see all that’s physical, our hearts have eyes that let us see all that’s spiritual.  Paul wanted us to have our full vision focused on the certain hope that awaits us in the future, to keep it in our line of sight.

But what of the phrase, “the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people.”?

That is not something He has for us.  IT IS US!!!

Jesus Christ, who died for us in the cruelest of ways and who rose again, will bring to conclusion the entire drama of redemption, and we will forever be His people, His inheritance.  To Him it is rich, something He values – being with you and me forever.

Dr. Andrew Lincoln, in his massive commentary on Ephesians, says about the phrase, “His inheritance”:

“Here in 1:18 the talk is of …..His inheritance, God’s inheritance, which focuses not so much on what He gives His people as on the other side …His possession of His people…Here it is God’s inheritance which is in view and His inheritance consists of the believers who now constitute His people…

This part of the writer’s position, then, is that the readers might appreciate the wonder, the glory of what God has done in entering into possession of His people, the church, Jews and Gentiles, and the immense privilege it is to be among these saints.”

Ephesians 3:8

“Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ.”

Jesus Christ and His gospel is the richest, wealthiest truth ever shared with humanity.  But it’s not just a matter of riches.  It’s a matter of BOUNDLESS riches.  In other words, the riches that come to those who respond to the gospel have no boundaries.  They are infinite in all directions.

Do you know there is no such thing as an American $1,000 bill?  American currency only comes in $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100.  To give someone $1,000 you have to hand them ten $100 bills.

Last night, I gave a nice copy of the Bible to a man who is starting to awaken to his spiritual needs.  If I had used $100 bills for bookmarks and put them between the pages, he would have been thrilled.  I didn’t do that, but I believe in time he’s going to realize that the words on the pages – the gospel of Christ – are a message of boundless personal riches to him.

We seldom give people large sums of money, but whenever we share our faith we are preaching the boundless riches of Christ.

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