The Daily Readings for THURSDAY, January 4, 2018

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
John 9:1-12

Daily Readings

Joshua 3:14-4:7

When the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan, the priests bearing the ark of the covenant were in front of the people. Now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest. So when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water, the waters flowing from above stood still, rising up in a single heap far off at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, while those flowing toward the sea of the Arabah, the Dead Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people crossed over opposite Jericho. While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan. When the entire nation had finished crossing over the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua: "Select twelve men from the people, one from each tribe, and command them, 'Take twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests' feet stood, carry them over with you, and lay them down in the place where you camp tonight.'" Then Joshua summoned the twelve men from the Israelites, whom he had appointed, one from each tribe. Joshua said to them, "Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, one for each of the tribes of the Israelites, so that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, 'What do those stones mean to you?' then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off in front of the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial forever."

Ephesians 5:1-20

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints. Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be associated with them. For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light-- for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 9:1-12, 9:35-38

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, "Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?" Some were saying, "It is he." Others were saying, "No, but it is someone like him." He kept saying, "I am the man." But they kept asking him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' Then I went and washed and received my sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know." Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him." Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he." He said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible or account for fifty percent (50%) of the total work in which they are quoted.

The Daily Readings for WEDNESDAY, January 3, 2018

Jesus Walks on Water
John 6:16-21

Daily Readings

1 Kings 19:9-18

At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He answered, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away." He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He answered, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away." Then the LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill; and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill. Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him."

Ephesians 4:17-32

Now this I affirm and insist on in the Lord: you must no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart. They have lost all sensitivity and have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. That is not the way you learned Christ! For surely you have heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus. You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.

John 6:15-27

When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself. When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going. The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal."

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible or account for fifty percent (50%) of the total work in which they are quoted.

Prayer of the Day for WEDNESDAY, January 3, 2018

Lord God, thank You for moving within the hearts of unsung heroes. Continue to move within each and every one of us so that we may give compassion to those who need compassion, bring peace to those who are in turmoil, render aid to those in need, and share the good news of forgiveness and eternal life that You offer as a free gift to all people.

Amen

Verse of the Day for WEDNESDAY, January 3, 2018

Romans 10:9-10 (NIV) If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Read all of Romans 10

Listen to Romans 10

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Morning Devotions with Cap'n Kenny - What Makes a Hero?

What Makes a Hero?

The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.

~ John 1:41–42 (NIV)

We hear the word hero a lot in our culture, but do we really know what it means? We seem to have a lot of celebrities but very few heroes. Historian Daniel Boorstin compared the two this way: “Celebrities are people who make news, but heroes are people who make history. Time makes heroes but dissolves celebrities.”

A hero is someone who does something selfless, something sacrificial. A hero is someone who puts the needs of another above his or her own. Sometimes heroes are known in their lifetime for their achievements, and sometimes we call them heroes after they’re gone. In that case, we sometimes call them unsung heroes because we didn’t realize how heroic they were until time had passed.

One unsung hero from the New Testament is Andrew, Peter’s brother. Andrew didn’t get a lot of ink in the New Testament, but what we do read about him is significant. Andrew is primarily known as the guy who brought others to Jesus. In fact, when he discovered that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah of Israel, he went and found his brother and brought him to the Lord.

How easily Andrew could have kept this to himself and said, “I don’t want Peter to get in here. He probably would try to take over the whole operation.” Instead, Andrew brought him to Jesus. In fact, every time we read about Andrew, he is bringing someone to the Lord.

We might say that Andrew is the patron saint of unsung heroes, the kind of people who are willing to do what needs to be done and fly under the radar. They just want God to get the glory. And here is the thing we need to remember: If we had more Andrews, we probably would have more Simon Peters.

There are many other people who have sacrificed themselves in order to bring about much-needed changes in this world. Their sacrifices, though, are nothing compared to the greatest sacrifice of all time: God the Father sacrificed His Son Jesus to suffer and die on the cross for the sins of the whole world.

Lord God, thank You for moving within the hearts of unsung heroes. Continue to move within each and every one of us so that we may give compassion to those who need compassion, bring peace to those who are in turmoil, render aid to those in need, and share the good news of forgiveness and eternal life that You offer as a free gift to all people. Amen

In Jesus,
Cap'n Kenny


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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Why Andrew is one of the New Testament's unsung heroes.

Un Dia a la Vez - Todo va a salir bien

Todo va a salir bien

No temas, porque no serás avergonzada. No te turbes, porque no serás humillada.

~ Isaías 54:4 (NVI)

No tuve la enorme dicha de conocer a Jesús desde pequeña y en mi juventud, gracias a Dios, tuve un hogar más o menos estable. Un hogar como muchos, con varios problemas entre mis padres y con el triste desenlace de un divorcio. Ver el dolor en mi madre, la desesperación de mi padre y uno como hijo amándolos a los dos es muy fuerte. Es posible que tú, como hijo, estés en medio de esa tormenta y enfrentes una sola verdad: ¿Con quién vivirás? ¿Con papá o mamá? El divorcio será algo que marcará para siempre la vida de todos los involucrados en la familia.

Lo que nunca pensé es que esa sería una herencia para mí. La experiencia de dos divorcios dejó en mi vida mucha soledad, frustraciones y arrepentimiento, sobre todo con mi Padre celestial. Hoy en día, con una vida restaurada por completo y con una clara visión de lo que es un pacto de fidelidad a Dios y a mis promesas, estoy felizmente casada y esta vez para toda la vida.

Si estás atravesando una separación o un divorcio, no temas. No eres la única persona. Solo permite que Dios sea tu guía, tu esperanza… y te levantarás otra vez.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón

Standing Strong Through the Storm - JESUS’ PRESENCE DOESN’T GUARANTEE OUR COMFORT

JESUS’ PRESENCE DOESN’T GUARANTEE OUR COMFORT

A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?

~ Mark 4:37-38 (NIV)

Many times storms can make it seem like Jesus doesn’t care. In this story Jesus’ humanity is evident. He was so tired he was sleeping through a storm which caused the disciples—some even professional fishermen—to fear for their lives.

Without warning, Muslim background believers, Gulshan and Latifa, found themselves caught in a dangerous storm of opposition from local police—all because they had accepted an invitation to a Christian woman’s home to meet with several women who were not believers.

While they were drinking tea and chatting, the police arrived and searched the house. When they could find no incriminating materials, the officers left. But a short time later, other policemen started filming all the ladies. Accusing the two Christian ladies of holding a religious meeting, the police took them into custody. They escorted them to a police station where they were pressured to admit involvement in “illegal missionary activities.”

When they refused to sign, police detained and abused them for six hours. Gulshan was beaten so badly that she suffered a concussion. Only after their pastor intervened did the police let them receive treatment for their injuries.

Gulshan and Latifa left their hometown and sought refuge in one of Open Doors’ “Safe Houses” in another region of their country. For a month they were able to escape the brunt of the storm, staying in the “Safe House” until the pressures abated. Meanwhile, the judge hearing the women’s case fined them in absentia seven times the minimum monthly wage—more than a half year’s salary.

“We were very happy to spend time away from all the tumult,” the two believers said as they later left the “Safe House” to return home. “We were able to learn more about spending time with God and being quiet before Him. To meet with other believers was a blessing and really encouraged us. And thank you so much for assisting us in paying these huge fines. You are a blessing!” the two women concluded.

Though it seemed at first that Jesus did not care for or about them, those who were the hands and feet for Jesus came to the rescue and the storm was weathered with encouragement resulting in more boldness.

RESPONSE: Today I will live in the awareness and peace that Jesus is in the storm with me. His presence doesn’t guarantee comfort, but it builds faith that He will ultimately calm the storm.

PRAYER: Pray that all those feeling that Jesus doesn’t care about their storm will realize the power and comfort His presence can bring.

Girlfriends in God - A Lesson from the Mascara Queen

A Lesson from the Mascara Queen

Sharon Jaynes

Today’s Truth

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do .

~ James 1:25 (NIV)

Friend to Friend

Ok, this is a very girlie devotion. You might be tempted to click delete, but stick with me.

Gwen and I were having lunch one day. Her eyelashes looked so long…longer than normal. I couldn’t stop staring.

“Girl, your eyelashes are so long today! What did you do?” I asked. “Are they real?”

Come to find out, they were real. Not only that, we used the same products, but my lashes didn’t look like hers at all. Mine were clumpy, separated, and spindly. Hers were lush, long, and perfectly spaced.

“It’s the application of the product,” she said. “You’re not applying it correctly. You need to start at the bottom, wiggle the applicator, and then pull it straight up to the end like this.” She wiggled, flipped, and curled her index finger up to show me how.

When I got home, I did exactly what Gwen said…and my eyelashes looked totally different. Better.

Then God spoke to me through this silly, girlfriend conversation. I realized that application is the key to more than my eyelashes. It is the key to life.

James 1:22-25 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

I can read God’s Word from cover to cover, go to Bible studies year after year, and read Christian living books stacked high. But unless I apply the principles properly, they lay dormant in my soul. I won’t be any different than I was before I did the study. I won’t act any different than before I read the Word. I won’t feel any different than before I underlined and highlighted that inspiring book.

Can you imagine what the world would be like if we God-fearing people actually applied what we learned?

Here’s what I want you—and me—to do today. Think back to the last five principles you learned from reading a devotional, a book, a Scripture, or hearing a sermon. Then note how you have applied that teaching to your life.

If it’s too hard to remember what you’ve learned, start today and write down the next five principles you learn. Keep the list, then go back in a few weeks and note how you applied the truths to your life.

Let’s Pray

Lord, help me to not only be a hearer of the Word, but also a doer of the Word. Show me when I am not applying Your principles correctly. Convict me when I walk away from a powerful message and continue living the same old way as I did before. Help me to move Your Word from my head to my feet as I walk through life.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

I’ve already given you your challenge for today. Make your list. Then go back and note how you applied new truths to your life.

More From the Girlfriends

January is always full of New Year’s resolutions. One of mine is to pray more diligently for my husband. If you’d like to join me in impacting your marriage and your man in the most powerful way possible, check out my book, Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe: A Scriptural Guide for Daily Prayer. It shows you how to cover him in Scripture-based prayer from his head—what he thinks about—all the way down to his feet—the path he takes.

Seeking God?

Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal

relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God

www.girlfriendsingod.com

LHM Advent Devotion - January 3, 2018 "HOLDING JESUS"

Advent Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"HOLDING JESUS"

January 3, 2018

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the Law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God ..."

~ Luke 2:25-28a (ESV)

Simeon was probably reaching the end of a long life, but he had one wish left-to see the promised Messiah before he died. And God promised he would. How he must have treasured that promise.

On the right day, the Holy Spirit sent him to the temple, where a poor young family was coming to worship and sacrifice. They didn't look like anyone important. But Simeon recognized the baby-the Messiah, Jesus, his Savior-and took Him up in his arms, praising God.

Simeon was holding God incarnate in his arms. It was enough-the goal, the joy of a lifetime. And Simeon sang out his joy in the words we sing today as the Nunc Dimittis.

There are times I wish that I, too, could hold Jesus in my arms. It is hard sometimes to love a God who is invisible, whose voice we usually don't hear with our ears, whose face we have never seen. Yet the Holy Spirit keeps us faithful and faith-filled in spite of this.

Maybe that is one reason why God gave us the Lord's Supper-so that we can touch, handle, and even taste Him in His gifts. God knows that we are like Simeon. We need to see the Lord's Christ. We need to touch, to taste. And so God gives not just our spirits but our bodies, too, a share in His salvation. All of us, body and soul, was redeemed by Christ when He died for us and rose again. And someday Job's words will come true for us also:

"For I know that my Redeemer lives,

and at the last He will stand upon the earth.

And after my skin has been thus destroyed,

yet in my flesh I shall see God,

whom I shall see for myself,

and my eyes shall behold, and not another."

(Job 19:25-27a)

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I belong to You, both body and soul. Strengthen my faith and keep me with You forever. Amen.

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Simeon was probably reaching the end of a long life, but he had one wish left...

Devociones de Adviento del 03 de enero de 2018 "Sosteniendo a Jesús"

ALIMENTO DIARIO

"Sosteniendo a Jesús"

3 de Enero de 2018

En Jerusalén vivía un hombre justo y piadoso, llamado Simeón, que esperaba la salvación de Israel. El Espíritu Santo reposaba en él y le había revelado que no moriría antes de que viera al Ungido del Señor. Simeón fue al templo, guiado por el Espíritu. Y cuando los padres del niño Jesús lo llevaron al templo para cumplir con lo establecido por la ley, él tomó al niño en sus brazos y bendijo a Dios.

~ Lucas 2:25-28 (RVC)

A pesar de su larga vida, Simeón todavía tenía un deseo por cumplir: ver al Mesías anunciado, así como Dios se lo había prometido. ¡Cuánto habrá atesorado esa promesa!

Cuando llegó el día, el Espíritu Santo llevó a Simeón al templo donde una familia joven estaba yendo para adorar y ofrecer sacrificio. No tenían nada de extraordinario. Sin embargo, Simeón reconoció al niño: ¡Jesús, el Mesías, su Salvador! Y lo tomó en brazos y bendijo a Dios.

Estaba sosteniendo en sus brazos al Dios encarnado, el deseo de toda su vida, y eso ya era suficiente. De su corazón brotaron las palabras que hoy conocemos como el Canto de Simeón.

Hay momentos en los que yo también quisiera poder sostener a Jesús en mis brazos. A veces es difícil querer a un Dios invisible, cuya voz no escuchamos con los oídos y cuyo rostro nunca hemos visto. Pero el Espíritu Santo nos mantiene fieles y llenos de fe.

Quizás esa sea una razón por la cual Dios se nos ofrece en cuerpo y sangre: para que podamos tocarlo y degustarlo. Dios sabe que, como Simeón, necesitamos ver, tocar y degustar al Cristo. Y es por ello que comparte con nosotros su salvación, tanto en espíritu como en cuerpo. Todo nuestro ser ha sido redimido por la muerte y resurrección de Cristo. Un día, las palabras de Job se harán realidad para cada uno de nosotros:

"Yo sé que mi Redentor vive,

y que al final se levantará del polvo.

También sé que he de contemplar a Dios,

aun cuando el sepulcro destruya mi cuerpo.

Yo mismo seré quien lo vea,

y lo veré con mis propios ojos,

aun cuando por dentro ya estoy desfalleciendo."

(Job 19:25-27)

ORACIÓN: Querido Señor, te pertenezco en cuerpo y alma. Fortalece mi fe hasta la eternidad. Amén

© Copyright 2017 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.

Notre Pain Quotidien - Une gloire à couper le souffle

Une gloire à couper le souffle

Lisez : 1 chroniques 29.10-13

La Bible en un an : Genèse 7 – 9 ; Matthieu 3

À toi, Éternel, la grandeur, la force et la magnificence, l’éternité et la gloire. (V. 11)

Un des plaisirs qu’il y a à visiter l’Europe consiste à voir les grandes cathédrales éparpillées dans ses paysages. D’une beauté à couper le souffle, elles s’élèvent vers le ciel. L’architecture, l’art et le symbolisme propres à ces étonnants édifices nous captivent et nous émerveillent par leur splendeur.

En réfléchissant au fait que ces structures ont été bâties pour refléter la magnificence de Dieu et sa splendeur inégalable, je me suis demandé comment faire revivre dans notre cœur et notre esprit un sentiment comparable devant la grandeur de Dieu et nous rappeler sa toute‑puissance.

Un moyen d’y parvenir consiste à regarder au‑delà des structures admirables et somptueuses de l’homme pour contempler la majesté de ce que Dieu a lui‑même créé. Contemplez une nuit étoilée et réfléchissez à la puissance que Dieu a déployée en donnant vie à l’univers par sa parole. Tenez un nouveau‑né dans vos bras et remerciez Dieu pour le miracle de la vie en soi. Regardez les sommets aux neiges éternelles de l’Alaska ou l’imposant océan Atlantique qui grouille des millions de créatures que Dieu a faites et imaginez la puissance qui permet à cet écosystème de fonctionner.

L’humanité n’a pas tort de tendre vers le ciel au moyen de structures visant à nous diriger vers Dieu. Nous devrions cependant réserver notre admiration la plus pure à Dieu même en lui disant : « À toi, Éternel, la grandeur, la force et la magnificence, l’éternité et la gloire » (1 CH 29.11).

Dieu seul est digne de notre adoration.

par Dave Branon

© 2018 Ministères NPQ
Un des plaisirs qu’il y a à visiter l’Europe consiste à voir les grandes cathédrales éparpillées dans ses paysages.