"REJOICE!"

"Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!"  (Matthew 28:9)

The, "Rejoice!", which Jesus said here is the post-Resurrection, empty-tomb, "Rejoice!'  This, "Rejoice!", defines all the rejoices in the Bible, and any ever uttered throughout the earth and universe.  This is, "the-last-enemy," is-defeated, all-sin-forgiven, guaranteed-home-in-Heaven, Eternal, Rock-Solid, "Rejoice!"

Father, in Jesus' Name, I do rejoice in You.  Amen. 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"He Opened Not His Mouth"

"But He answered him not a word, so that the governor marveled greatly."  (Matthew 27:14)

Isaiah tells us, "He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he opened not His mouth."  Why did Jesus not respond to the accusations of the religious leaders?  The answer is quite short--- you and I, humanity, as the creed says, "Who for us men and our salvation came down."

The hymn says, "He had no tears for His own griefs, but sweat drops of blood for mine."  This is Jesus, the Christ.  This is, "What Wondrous Love...."  The Living Triune God is always thinking only of you and me, humanity, how to bring us to Himself, save us, keep us, provide for us.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You, again and again.  Amen. 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....God...Cannot Lie...."

"...in hope of eternal life which God, Who cannot lie, promised before time began...."  (Titus 1:2)

This should settle everything for you and me: "God...cannot lie...."  He cannot; therefore, everything you read in the Bible is assured to all humanity because, again, "....God...cannot lie."

What are you going to do with this today?  The next time life, the Enemy, or whoever tells you that what Jesus promises is not true, e.g., "For all the promises of God in Him (Jesus) are Yes, and in Him (Jesus) Amen...," what will be our reaction?  "God...cannot...lie...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I trust You.  Amen. 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Surround Sound

"As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever."  (Psalm 125:2)

This was one of my Psalms reading this morning.  Below is an illustration of our text.

"'The children are dressed and ready for school.  But there is no food for them to eat,' the housemother of the orphanage informed George Mueller.  George asked her to take the 300 children into the dining room and have them sit at the tables.  He thanked God for the food and waited....Within minutes a baker knocked on the door.  'Mr. Mueller, last night I could not sleep.  Somehow I knew that you would need bread this morning.  I got up and baked three batches for you.  I will bring it in.'  Soon, there was another knock at the door.  It was the milkman.  His cart had broken down in front of the orphanage.  The milk would spoil by the time the wheel was fixed.  He asked George if he could use some free milk.., ten large cans...."  Our Lord Jesus Christ, "....surrounds His People...forever." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, may I be such a person of trust in You.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....In The Last Days...."

"....In the last days...men will be lovers of themselves...."  (2 Timothy 3)

Men have always been, "....lovers of themselves...," i.e., putting themselves before others, thinking first and foremost of their own happiness, success, promotion, etc.,------ before anyone else.  Another word for it is selfishness. 

In these last days, however, this will just get worse.  I have been thinking a lot recently of the Ephesians passage in which the Holy Spirit says, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for her...."  This is the "antidote" of, "....lovers of themselves...."  I have felt more and more that this is not a Word just to husbands, but to all of us toward all humanity.

Father, in Jesus' Name, by the Holy Spirit, help me to walk toward all people, "....just as Christ also loved the Church...."  Amen.

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Another note to let you know that were are collecting funds for backpacks again this year.  The pastor to which we took some backpacks in the Rapid City, SD, area has also requested Native Bibles for the "Freedom Jamboree" outreach,  July 2 & 3.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2