"....LIKE ONE WHO LIFTS A LITTLE CHILD TO THE CHEEK...."

"I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love.  To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them." (Hosea 11:4, NIV)

Well, it just does not come any more loving and compassionate than this.

This is the Living Triune God of the Universe, keeping our Planet in orbit at a speed of 67, 000 mph around our Sun, and here He is, "....like one who lifts a little child to the cheek and I bent down to feed them."  Today's text is a perfect simile of what the Godhead did in that field outside Bethlehem so long ago.  He "fed" us Jesus.

The song says, "chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose, Yule Tide carols....help to make the season bright."  I offer our text.  As I read it this morning, it made the Season most Bright.

Father, what glorious expression of Your love for me.  In Jesus' Name, thank 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

TRUE AND FALSE

"Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind."  (Ecclesiastes 2:11)

True:   Jesus Christ saves us from sin.  

False:  Jesus saves us from the consequences of sin.   

I am open to correction and rebuke on this, but as I have read the Scriptures over the years I see no escape from the consequences of our sin.  "Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before...."  Or, Remember Jesus Christ before you mess up more of your life.  Yes, this passage may be speaking of the end of life, but I believe it also applies to life's journey. 

The Bible says to us that sinners are, "sinners against their own souls."  We know that our sin breaks the Heart of God.  But do we realize that sin breaks us?  "Be sure your sin will find you out."

I am thankful for the Blood of Jesus Christ and the power in His Blood to forgive and deliver me from sin.  And along with that, I pray for His grace and mercy to deal with the consequences of sin.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I am so thankful that, "Your mercies are new every morning."  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

PSALM NUGGET, OT LESSON, NT LESSON

PSALM NUGGET:

"In God (I will praise His Word), in the Lord (I will praise His Word)...."  (Psalm 56:10)

OT LESSON:

"The court was seated, and the books were opened."  (Daniel 7:10d)

NT LESSON:

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance.  And he went out, not knowing where he was going." (Hebrews 11:8)

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

"....WHAT HE HAS GIVEN YOU"

"Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved  (shaken, totter')."  (Psalm 55:22)

The Hebrew Interlinear has it: "Cast what He has given you on the Lord...."  Now this is powerful in that, perhaps, what we have viewed in our sojourn as too "heavy," something to be fought against, rejected, is really a gift "from" Jesus.  

Perhaps there is something in our text of what King Jesus tells us in, "Come to Me, all who are weary ('who work to exhaustion') and are burdened, and I will give you rest....For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light (or, 'not burdensome')."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that You continually correct any erroneous interpretation of Your Words.  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

THE GREAT MEDICINE

"For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."  (Hebrews 4:12)

No one else can do this for you and me, no doctor, psychiatrist, pastor, talk show host, NOBODY.  The life-saving description of our text, which is a description of Jesus Christ Himself, reveals some of what Jesus "works" in those who are committed to His Words. 

Over 53 years ago, my Doctor told me to, "take much of this and call me in the morning."  I'm alive in Jesus Christ today because I did, and have been so doing. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I regret I did not learn this when I was younger.  "Your Words are life to those who find Them...."  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