When you refuse to be honest with God and others, and I think this is by far the biggest issue, the one that can devastate the most. In the end, you’ll come over here and whatever your fear is, whatever your doubt is, whatever your addiction is, whatever your issue is, all your vitality, all your energy and all your effort will go into subduing this thing, hiding this thing, avoiding this thing or trying to overcome this thing. And the thing you’ll forget about is the cross. The objective evidence of God’s love and care for you is the cross of Jesus Christ. And unfortunately for so many of us, we become issue-driven and not cross-driven. So you’re going to fail, you’re going to stumble, you’re going to have these moments where you fall short and you’re going to have these moments where you’re going to fall back into bad patterns. And if you don’t understand the cross, if you don’t understand the mercy of God given to us in Jesus, then you’ll try to muster more strength to overcome this thing that you cannot beat. So you take your eyes off of the objective evidence of God’s love for you, that Jesus died while you were at your worst. Because if your eyes are on that, everything changes.
— Matt Chandler (via iwillwalkbyfaith)
(via songyumi)
“But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop” (Luke 8:15, NIV)
Sometimes in the natural, we don’t see how God’s promises are going to come to pass in our lives. It seems like there are so many obstacles to overcome. But we have to see God’s Word like a seed. When it’s planted in our hearts, and we water it by thinking the right thoughts and expecting good things, that little seed begins to grow into something much, much greater.
Jesus told a parable in Mark, chapter four. He said, “God’s Word is like a tiny mustard seed. When it is sown, it is less than all the other seeds, one of the smallest. But when it grows up, it becomes greater than all.” Notice it goes from being less than all to being greater than all.
Are you in an overwhelming situation today, maybe in your health, finances or relationships? Does God’s promise seem small compared to what you’re facing?
Don’t sit back and think, “Man, it’s never going to get any better. It’s never going to change.” Instead, sow the Word by speaking it every single day. Water that seed by staying in faith because the seed of the Word has supernatural power in it. It will grow and flourish, and you will see God’s promises come to pass all the days of your life!
For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.
The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. (Revelation 21:21, NIV)
If the apostle John hasn’t already conveyed to us that our Father’s House is spectacular, his description of the streets surely does. But I wonder if there is a subtle message to us contained in his description - a message that my wise mother, with her characteristic humor, pointed out to me when she dryly exclaimed that you can tell what God thinks of gold because He paves the streets of heaven with it! Gold is really just heavenly asphalt! In other words, there are many things down here on earth that we give a top priority to, which in eternity will be inconsequential and insignificant.
It’s sobering to contemplate how much time, effort, sacrifice, compromise, and attention we give to acquiring and increasing our supply of something that is totally insignificant in eternity. What are your priorities? As you live them out, will they have eternal value and significance?
-Anne Graham lotz
