 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority." - Acts 1:7 When we get stuck in a single snapshot of our lives, those hard moments that seem to linger forever, it seems like God has abandoned us. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In those times, you are being held up in God's will. If you just wait you will see it. God has your time of relief already planned, you just don't see it yet. Have faith in God's timing today as much as you have faith in his goodness.
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 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship." - Romans 12:1 Ask yourself this, "What could I do right now that would please God?" Can you come up with anything? It's not that hard. Now, ask yourself, "Am I willing to do that?" It's an easy choice when your first goal is pleasing God and all your other goals are secondary.
 "Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches." - 1 Corinthians 7:17 We never try to leave a place when it's good. Only when we are struggling do we want to run away. But that's when we need to stop and look around, asking ourselves why God brought us there. He has a purpose in mind for us, no matter what challenging situations we find ourselves in.  "When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love." - John 15:10 Jesus knew something about living in peace. He was criticized constantly and still was able to be at peace with himself and his purpose in life. The secret to that kind of peace is obedience brought about in love. That's what love does. It takes away the sting of obedience and makes it something we can do because we care. Can you love God enough today to obey his voice?  "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5 We don't often think of a vine as something good. Maybe you swung on one at one time. But, generally, vines are invasive and in need of pruning. For grapes, though, the vine is everything. It brings sustenance and strength to the branches that make it possible to feed and secure the fruit. If you want fruit in your life, you have to be connected to a vine. Nurture your connection with Jesus today?  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6 Jesus isn't just our path to a great life, he's also the truth. He is what we can count on to be right and trustworthy. His truth can anchor us in what we understand and give us confidence in him. Think about what you know is true today.  Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live." - John 11:25 Jesus makes a distinction in this teaching between resurrection and life. It's interesting that our culture has put so much emphasis on the resurrection and so little on life. We hear a lot about what happens after we die, but not as much about how we should live. Think today how Jesus changes your life right now."  "I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture." - John 10:9 In this parable, Jesus describes himself as the door. He is the way to get in and out. The rest of the story is based on sheep. For them, the pasture is everything they need for life. The door is the access to the pasture. For us, Jesus is the access we need to everything in life that's good. Are you willing to let Jesus be your access today?  Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." - John 6:35 Jesus, after feeding thousands of people with a couple of loaves of bread and fish, tells the people who ate that he is the bread of life. He refers to this bread echoing the Old Testament time when God sent down manna from heaven. In this way, Jesus tells us that he came from heaven, he was sent by God, and he is the nourishment we need to be satisfied with life. Are you hungry for him today? |
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