The Daily Readings for THURSDAY, July 12, 2018

The Destruction of the Temple Foretold

The Daily Readings

THURSDAY, July 12, 2018

Old Testament

Deuteronomy 3:18-28
3:18 At that time, I charged you as follows: “Although the Lord your God has given you this land to occupy, all your troops shall cross over armed as the vanguard of your Israelite kin. 19 Only your wives, your children, and your livestock—I know that you have much livestock—shall stay behind in the towns that I have given to you. 20 When the Lord gives rest to your kindred, as to you, and they too have occupied the land that the Lord your God is giving them beyond the Jordan, then each of you may return to the property that I have given to you.” 21 And I charged Joshua as well at that time, saying: “Your own eyes have seen everything that the Lord your God has done to these two kings; so the Lord will do to all the kingdoms into which you are about to cross. 22 Do not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you.”
Moses Views Canaan from Pisgah
23 At that time, too, I entreated the Lord, saying: 24 “O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your might; what god in heaven or on earth can perform deeds and mighty acts like yours! 25 Let me cross over to see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and the Lebanon.” 26 But the Lord was angry with me on your account and would not heed me. The Lord said to me, “Enough from you! Never speak to me of this matter again! 27 Go up to the top of Pisgah and look around you to the west, to the north, to the south, and to the east. Look well, for you shall not cross over this Jordan. 28 But charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, because it is he who shall cross over at the head of this people and who shall secure their possession of the land that you will see.”

The Epistle

Romans 9:19-33
God’s Wrath and Mercy
9:19 You will say to me then, “Why then does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who indeed are you, a human being, to argue with God? Will what is molded say to the one who molds it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one object for special use and another for ordinary use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath that are made for destruction; 23 and what if he has done so in order to make known the riches of his glory for the objects of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 including us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 25 As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’” 26 “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they shall be called children of the living God.” 27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the children of Israel were like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved; 28 for the Lord will execute his sentence on the earth quickly and decisively.” 29 And as Isaiah predicted, “If the Lord of hosts had not left survivors to us, we would have fared like Sodom and been made like Gomorrah.”
Israel’s Unbelief
30 What then are we to say? Gentiles, who did not strive for righteousness, have attained it, that is, righteousness through faith; 31 but Israel, who did strive for the righteousness that is based on the law, did not succeed in fulfilling that law. 32 Why not? Because they did not strive for it on the basis of faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written, “See, I am laying in Zion a stone that will make people stumble, a rock that will make them fall, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

The Gospel

Matthew 24:1-14
The Destruction of the Temple Foretold
24:1 As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 Then he asked them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”
Signs of the End of the Age
3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: 8 all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.
Persecutions Foretold
9 “Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.
Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.

The Morning Prayer for THURSDAY, July 12, 2018

For the bird who sings outside my window, For the tree that stands outside my door, For the neighbor who waves and says “good morning”, I give you thanks dear God, for these and more,

Your blessings every morning know no limit, Yet I often rush by not seeing them, I fear; Let me take a moment this and every morning, God, I pray, To remember all of them, and know that you are here.

Amen

Verse of the Day for THURSDAY, July 12, 2018

Acts 4:12 (NIV) Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Read all of Acts 4

Listen to Acts 4

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

Morning Devotions with Chaplain Kenny - What About Those Who Have Never Heard About Jesus?

What About Those Who Have Never Heard About Jesus?

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

~ Acts 4:12 (NIV)

Jesus was clear about the rules for receiving salvation when he said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). And when speaking about Jesus, the apostle Peter said in this passage, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Further, all people have to answer to God whether or not they have “heard” about him (see Hebrews 9:27). The Bible states that God has clearly revealed himself in creation (see Romans 1:19–20) and that he has “set eternity in the human heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). This means that people see all around them the evidence of God and sense within themselves the truth that they are meant for more than this world. God is not the problem; humankind is. Because of sin, people reject this knowledge of God and rebel against his will (see Romans 1:21–23). It is only because of God’s grace (see Ephesians 2:8-9) that he saves people from their own sinful desires (see Romans 1:24–32).

How God works out his plan is mysterious and complicated. We have our ideas of what it means for Jesus to be “the way,” but he is not bound by our understanding. God works to accomplish his goals in ways that we will never see or comprehend. The wideness of God’s mercy and the tenacity of his love is beyond our intellectual capacity.

Jesus is central in the redemption story. But God rewards those who seek him (see Hebrews 11:6). It is our mission to help those who seek him and make sure that those who have yet to answer God’s call hear and understand the gospel (see Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). God always acts justly; he never acts unfairly or wrongly (see Deuteronomy 32:4). We might be surprised at the final roll call of heaven. Fortunately, it is God—not us—who will sort out the details in each person’s case.

In Jesus,
Chaplain 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. Devotion taken from NIV Essentials Study Bible. ©2017 HarperCollins Christian Publishing.
Jesus was clear about the rules for receiving salvation.

Un dia a la Vez - Semana de pacto con Dios: Las manos

Semana de pacto con Dios: Las manos

Te bendeciré mientras viva, y alzando mis manos te invocaré.

~ Salmo 63:4 (NVI)

Sin duda, Dios creó las manos a la perfección. Sus funciones son específicas como tomar y sostener objetos. Junto con los dedos, son utensilios para comer. Con las manos también se expresan saludos, aunque no todos los hacemos como es debido. A veces hacemos señales que no son las más decentes. ¡Huy! Ja, ja, ja.

Para las personas que no pueden hablar, las manos son un tremendo instrumento para hablar con señales. Sirve como instrumento de medida y herramienta de trabajo. Piensa por un momento todo lo que hacemos con nuestras manos para trabajar, jugar y hacer deportes. En fin, podríamos seguir trayendo a nuestra mente infinidad de cosas.

Sin embargo, las manos mal usadas entristecen a Dios. Con ellas muchas personas roban y toman un arma para herir a otros o matar.

Con las manos se maltratan miles y miles de niños, de hombres y mujeres.

Sé que muchas personas que hoy leen este libro tienen sus manitos enfermas o les falta partes de las manos por accidentes o por nacimiento. Aun así, no se quejan y hacen lo que pueden para salir adelante.

Señor, hoy me comprometo a guardar mis manos y honrarte a ti.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Sin duda, Dios creó las manos a la perfección.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - THE BEATITUDES

THE BEATITUDES

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

~ Matthew 5:1-2 (NIV)

For the next nine days we’ll look at Jesus’ greatest training program—the Beatitudes. It is important to remember that each of the eight Beatitudes has a two-fold nature: a “knowing” and a “doing” response. We must not only know them, we must also respond to what we learn from them.

Eight times in the Beatitudes it says, “Blessed are….” To understand the Beatitudes, we need to know the meaning of those words. Blessed are refers to Jesus’ evaluation of the kind of person He names in each Beatitude. Jesus was referring to His esteem for that kind of person. His meaning is, “I esteem highly any person who….” He was urging us to have that kind of attitude. His deeper meaning is, “All you who hear Me, choose to become like these kinds of people.”

One noted author calls the Beatitudes, “God’s radical reconstruction of the heart!” We must never consider that Jesus was promising happy conditions, as though He meant, “The one who is poor in spirit will feel good and always be joyful.”

The first four Beatitudes focus internally—that is, they speak to the heart of the one who wants to obey God. They can be viewed as four stepping stones to becoming an obedient servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are: humility, mourning, meekness and hunger for righteousness.

The second four Beatitudes focus on the external behavior of the servant who follows Jesus. They are: mercy, purity, peacemaking and persecution.

This teaching has particular relevance for Christians who live under Islam. Restricted, deprived, regarded as second class citizens, laughed at, despised, often living in fear, many times persecuted, the words of encouragement are precious and give fresh hope of another place and time when things will be put right.

While in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, there are greater freedoms and life is not so difficult, there are restrictions nonetheless. In others like Pakistan, Christians have suffered unjustly and are denied many basic rights. In Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Sudan, Nigeria and Morocco, the story is similar though the extent of suffering may vary. To all, Jesus gives this important message. We will look at each of the eight Beatitudes individually.

RESPONSE: I will study Jesus’ Beatitudes so that I live the way Jesus lived.

PRAYER: Pray for Christians in Islamic countries that they will receive great encouragement as they seek to know and live the Beatitudes in their regions of restriction.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.

NIV Devotionals for Men - A Glorious Preview

A Glorious Preview

Exodus 34:29–35
Recommended Reading: Matthew 17:1–8; 2 Corinthians 3:7–18; Revelation 21:22—22:6

The lights in the theater dim and a deep, mysterious voice booms ominously through the speakers. On the screen, a sequence of scenes quickly establishes the setting, introduces the main characters and teases about the plot. Of course, you’re watching a preview for Hollywood’s next blockbuster flick.

However, since the film’s producers want you to plop down the bucks to watch the entire movie, they give you only a sketchy outline to pique your interest. So the preview suggests a lot more than it shows.

If a theatrical preview exists in the Bible, the episode about Moses’ radiant face provides a great teaser. We catch a glimpse of God’s glory, but the preview suggests a lot more than it actually shows. Instead of a detailed description, we only read that God’s glory made Moses’ face shine. Still, the effect was so powerful that it triggered fear in the Israelites, so much so that Moses had to cover his face.

God provided another preview of his glory in the person and ministry of Jesus Christ and the new covenant he established. The apostle Paul connects these two previews: “Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?” (2 Corinthians 3:7–8).

Amazingly, the full picture of God’s glory still lies ahead. Even more incredibly, we’re not just audience members watching a preview. God gives us a starring role! “We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Are you ready for your close-up?

To Take Away

• Do you long for God’s glory more than anything else? In what ways does your life show this to be true?
• What qualities and actions in Jesus’ life revealed God’s glory? How can you obtain a greater thirst for a “close-up” of God’s glory?
• Pray that God will show you smaller evidences of his glory in your everyday life.

Do you long for God’s glory more than anything else?

Girlfriends in God - The Cure for Restlessness

The Cure for Restlessness

Gwen Smith

Today’s Truth

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

~ Romans 12:21 (NIV)

Friend to Friend

It’s recorded in the book of Genesis that at the dawn of creation God made the heavens and the earth, separated light from darkness, and that everything was good. Then He held the sky away from the water, established day and night, and it was good. Next He spoke the land, seas, sun, moon and stars into existence, and again all good. He went on to fill the earth with fish, birds, and animals, and fashion man in His own image … and it was good, good, good and good. Then He rested - which we ALL know is awesome. Amen? Amen.

Peace covered the earth like a warm blanket.

God had a perfect relationship with all that He created. Adam and Eve got to know Him intimately. They walked and talked with Him in the Garden of Eden in a way so pure and sacred I can scarcely imagine.

Then Adam and Eve wrecked the good with greed.

They rejected what was meant to be respected, took what was not theirs to take, ate what was not theirs to eat, and sent perfection into a downward spiral of impossibility.

After good was spoken and perfection broken God sent Adam and Eve out of Eden. And it was there in their freshly fallen, imperfect reality that they conceived their first son, Cain, and eventually their second, Abel.

These brothers were very different. Able was an animal guy, Cain a farmer. Both brought offerings to God, but they were not received the same. The offering Abel presented pleased God. Cain’s did not. We aren’t told why, but can safely conclude that it was a matter of motive. God always looks at the heart.

Cain did NOT appreciate God calling him out on his heart situation by rejecting his offering. “So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.” (Genesis 4:5) God asked him why he was miffed and followed up with a strong question. “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?” Then God warned Cain, “If you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” (Genesis 4:7)

Jealousy, hate, bitterness, and anger filled and fueled Cain when he invited his brother Abel to go hang out in a field and then attacked and killed him.

God punished Cain for the murder by placing him under a curse. “When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” (Genesis 4:12)

Cain became a restless wanderer because he refused to heed the discipline and redirection of God. Instead, of turning his heart to the Lord in repentance and asking God to teach him the ways that are right, he allowed the crouching-at-his-door sin to master him. He let feelings of jealousy and anger lead his responses, and in doing so, brought destruction and restlessness upon himself and others.

Proverbs 3:11-12 instructs us this way, “Do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.”

Apologist Ravi Zacharias said, “God disciplines us for our good that we may share in His holiness.” Imagine that! You and I are invited to share in His holiness. Incredible.

But you and I can become restless wanderers who ignore correcting just as easily as Cain. Can’t we? Sin crouches at the doors of our hearts each day too. It looks like comparison and smells like envy. It sneaks like arrogance and creeps like gossip and promiscuity. Satan longs to control and master us so that our relationships with both God and man suffer.

Jesus said that our enemy is a thief that comes to steal and kill and destroy. (John 10:10) This sobering, slithering reality stirs me to take a fresh stand today.

I resolve that I will not allow the lying tempter to lead me away from the good God that has for me. I will consider the matter of my motives by asking God to search my heart and show me any ways that are offensive (Psalm 139:23-24). I will stop pretending that God turns a blind eye to any sin in my life. (That’s not who He is. God is holy and just.) I resolve that restlessness will not overcome me because I stand in the same power that resurrected Christ from the grave. I have decided to follow Jesus and there will be no turning back.

Will you take a fresh stand today as well?

Fair warning: the enemy will still crouch low trying to trip us up, but the Spirit of God within will help us to master and reject sin. The challenge is daily and the struggle is real, but the supply of God’s power is endless. The cure for restlessness is found when we turn from temptations toward Jesus. And as we call out God in prayer, His grace will meet us with strength for every trial.

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, Please forgive me for the times I allow sin to master me. Convict my heart of any thoughts, beliefs or actions that are not right in Your eyes. Root out all stubbornness, jealousy, pride and rebellion from my heart so that I will no longer be restlessness, but can rest in Your grace.
In Jesus’ Name I pray,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Read Romans 12. Which of the heart directives of Romans 12 speaks most to you today? What you plan to do about it?

More from the Girlfriends

We’re pleased to announce the new GRACEOLOGY with Gwen Smith podcast! Hang out with Gwen and friends when you go on walks, exercise, run errands or travel. Podcasts are also perfect to listen to as you do household chores! (Laundry anyone?) Each GRACEOLOGY with Gwen Smith podcast episode is filled with fun, faith-focused, grace-filled conversations that will help you know and trust God more. These discussions are going to encourage you in meaningful ways to live out and lean on the GRACE of Jesus in the midst of cluttered, messy days. CLICK HERE to subscribe on iTunes, or visit GwenSmith.net/Graceology for more information.

Seeking God?

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

relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God

www.girlfriendsingod.com

It’s recorded in the book of Genesis that at the dawn of creation God made the heavens and the earth, separated light from darkness, and that everything was good.

LHM Devotion - July 12, 2018 - All the Marbles

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"All the Marbles"

Jul. 12, 2018

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men which we must be saved.

~ Acts 4:12 (ESV)

The title of the Reuters' article read, "Greece Wants the Parthenon Marbles Back" from the British Museum.

Although Pam and I have been to Greece numerous times, and we have both spoken to guides and politicians about this very matter, for a moment I had a vision of some boys from Greece looking over the shoulders of some lads from Great Britain who were on their hands and knees playing with their aggies and alleys and shooters, you know, marbles.

But a game of marbles is not what the article was about.

The article was speaking about some marble sculptures which once hung on the Parthenon. They are no longer there because a British diplomat removed them in the early 1800s and took them to Britain for safekeeping. His argument went something like this: "You Greeks are being ruled by the Ottomans who just might mess up or even destroy these one-of-a-kind masterpieces. We will take care of them for you until we're sure you're ready for them."

Now I don't use the term "masterpiece" without thought. These Parthenon marbles are the creation of Phidias and his journeymen sculptors. Phidias, you see, was just about the best of the best and was responsible for the statue of seated Zeus, which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Understandably, the Greeks want their treasures back.

They have pointed out they are no longer being ruled by the Ottoman Empire, and they have a museum all built and ready to hold these marbles when they are returned -- something Britain does not appear too eager to do.

In some ways, the story of the Parthenon marbles reminds me of how humanity, the Lord's masterpiece, was stolen.

The story begins with creation. After bringing everything else into being with a word, the Lord did some personal, physical work on the making of Adam and Eve. When He was done, He surveyed the results, and pronounced everything "very good."

And it was. But then Satan, using some pretty smooth fast-talk stole away those masterpieces. It appeared Adam and Eve would be lost for all time. Indeed, it would have been that way if the Lord had not set into motion a plan to return us to where we belonged.

It took more than words -- more than petitions -- to bring sinners home.

It took the life of God's own Son to buy us back from those who had stolen us. It took the Savior who removed every obstacle which had been an impediment to our return. It was a hard task, but Jesus' third-day resurrection became God's sign and promise that believers will be brought home ... not to a museum but to our heavenly home.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, by Your grace, by Your plan, by Your Son's victory, we have been saved from evil and damnation. Make us truly grateful for all You have done and enable us to share that good news with others. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

The above devotion was inspired by a number of sources, including one written by Renee Maltezou for Reuters and carried on June 26, 2018. Those who wish to reference that article may do so at the following link, which was fully functional at the time this devotion was written: https://www.rawstory.com/2018/06/greece-prime-minster-tells-britain-wants-parthenon-marbles-back/

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Greece Wants the Parthenon Marbles Back

Devocional del CPTLN del 12 de Julio de 2018 - El amor

ALIMENTO DIARIO

El amor

12 de Julio de 2018

Porque el pecado es el aguijón de la muerte, y la ley es la que da poder al pecado. ¡Pero gracias sean dadas a Dios, de que nos da la victoria por medio de nuestro Señor Jesucristo!

~ 1 Corintios 15:56-57 (RVC)

Lo correcto es que entre las personas nos cuidemos. Pero, dado que somos pecadores, a veces nuestras motivaciones no son tan puras como debieran ser.

Así fue con un niño que, al regresar de la escuela, le dijo a su mamá que en su clase iban a recolectar alimentos para ayudar a los necesitados.

Su tarea, con el apoyo de sus padres, era pedir a sus vecinos alimentos no perecederos. Para comenzar, el niño le preguntó a su mamá si ella tenía algo para dar a los necesitados.

La mamá revisó los estantes de su despensa, y finalmente dijo: "Puedes llevar esta lata de sardinas. No sé por qué la compré. A nadie en la familia le gustan las sardinas".

La cara del niño se nubló con una mezcla de escepticismo y desánimo, y luego de un momento dijo: "Pero mamá, entonces quiere decir que las personas pobres nos están ayudando a nosotros".

Esta no es más que una historia, pero lamentablemente es una historia que se repite todo el tiempo. Demasiados políticos piden nuestro voto porque son "nuestros amigos", pero luego, cuando logran el puesto que buscaban, les ataca la amnesia y nos olvidan.

Los vendedores son sumamente respetuosos y amables cuando tratan de vendernos algo. Pero intente devolver un producto defectuoso o que no le gusta, y la amabilidad ya no será la misma.

Es muy raro encontrar a alguien que sólo busque nuestro bien, pero si siempre quiso conocer a alguien así, se lo voy a presentar: mire a Jesús en el pesebre de Belén y en la cruz del Calvario, y arrodíllese ante él resucitado, así como lo hizo Tomás.

Cuando lo haga, verá a Jesús como aquél que se dio completamente, con el sólo propósito de lograr nuestro perdón y nuestra salvación.

ORACIÓN: Amado Señor, en un mundo donde las personas sólo tratan de sacar provecho de nosotros, ayúdanos a conocer al único y misericordioso dador: Jesús. En su nombre. Amén.

© Copyright 2018 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
Lo correcto es que entre las personas nos cuidemos.

Хлеб наш насущный - Якорь

Якорь

Читать сейчас: Исаии 51:12-16 | Библия за год: Псалтирь 4-6; Деяния 17:16-34

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«Я, Я Сам – Утешитель ваш». — Исаии 51:12

Вы часто беспокоитесь? Я – да. Мне приходится бороться с беспокойством почти каждый день. Я переживаю о важном. Переживаю по пустякам. Иногда мне кажется, что я переживаю практически обо всем. Подростком, когда родители где-то задержались часа на четыре, я вызвал полицию.

В Библии часто говорится, чтобы мы не боялись. Бог добр и могуч, Он послал Иисуса Христа, чтобы умереть за нас, и Святого Духа, чтобы руководить нами. Поэтому оснований для страхов в нашей жизни нет. Иногда возникают проблемы, но Бог обещал быть с нами и помочь во всем.

Один библейский текст не раз помогал мне преодолевать страх – Исаии 51:12-16. В нем Бог напоминает израильтянам, которые испытывали серьезные трудности, что Он по-прежнему близок и любит их. «Я, Я Сам – Утешитель ваш», – говорит Он через пророка Исаию (Ис. 51:12).

Мне нравится это обещание. Пять коротких слов стали якорем для моей души. Много раз я обращался к ним, когда начинались проблемы и страхи обрушивались на меня с новой силой. Через этот текст Бог побуждает меня с верой поднять взгляд вверх и смотреть на моего Творца, «распростершего небеса и основавшего землю» (Ис. 51:13), Того, Кто обещал меня утешить.

Господь, иногда трудности кажутся слишком большими. Но Ты больше их. Помоги нам вопреки всем страхам держаться Твоих обещаний и видеть Твою заботу.

Божье присутствие сильнее наших страхов.

автор: Адам Хольц

© 2018 Хлеб Наш Насущный
Вы часто беспокоитесь?