"....WHETHER THINGS ON EARTH OR...IN HEAVEN...."

"For it pleased the Father that in Him (Jesus) all the fullness should dwell, and by Him (Jesus) to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him (Jesus), whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His (Jesus') cross."  (Colossians 1:19, 20) 

All humanity has the invitation to receive into their very beings, "....all the fullness..," of the Godhead.  This is far beyond my comprehension, yet this is the Gospel.

This, "fullness," is in Jesus Christ.  Our reconciliation to Father is in Jesus Christ, "having made peace through the Blood of His Cross."  From Cain and Abel on, every human being born on this planet was/is born a sinner.  Argue with this all anyone wishes; try to "figure this out" all one may try.  The truth of Scripture is, "All have sinned and come short...."

So, what did the, "All Fullness," do?  He ".... made peace through the Blood of [Jesus'] cross." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I so thank You for such Good News.  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

"'....NOW I WILL ARISE, 'SAYS THE LORD.'"

"'For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now I will arise,' says the Lord; 'I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.'"  Psalm 12:5) 

In September, 1982, I was taking off from the base in The Netherlands with hundreds of Bibles for Romania.  That morning Psalms reading included our text.

I had read the night before about a pastor who was caught transporting Bibles within Romania and was undergoing severe treatment by the police.  When some members of his family were able to see him, they could tell he had been tortured.  The two readings, of our Brother in Romania, and, "....the sighing of the needy," greatly affected me.

This is who Jesus Christ is to all who surrender their lives to Him.  There is no guarantee of the so many things for which people seek in their religion.  False prophets will tell them there is, but the truth is, "and you will be hated by all for My Name's sake."

Yet in the midst of life's trials is the King of Glory, Jesus Christ, "I will set him in the safety for which he yearns." Just let the King determined what that, "safety," is.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that you heard this "poor" man sighing and, "....set him in the safety for which he yearns."  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

"AND THE LORD SHUT HIM IN"

"So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in."  (Genesis 7:16)

"And the Lord shut him in."  Yes, this is escape-ism.  Judgment was coming, and our Lord Jesus Christ was providing, taking care of one who walked in obedience to, "The Word of God"; Hebrews 11 confirms this.   

No matter what 2024 has in store, or whatever the rest of our sojourn has for us here, "And the Lord shut him in", is our theme in Jesus Christ.  This does not mean that we will necessarily escape persecution or trouble of any sort, e.g., read of, "....and others..," in Hebrews 11.  What our Lord Jesus is telling us in our text, though, is consistent with, "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will abide under the shadow of the Almighty."  We're "covered."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for Your "covering."  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

OUR LIFE IS NOT PAST OR FUTURE--IT IS ETERNAL

"For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."  (Philippians 2:13)

Notice:

"....God...

             works in you...

                  for His good pleasure."

This is how we walk in victory in 2024.

I doubt that anyone knew on January 1, 1941, that on December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor would be attacked and over two thousand Americans would be killed; the same for January 1, 1963, that November 22nd of that year an American President would be killed.

No one knows what anyone will be doing on January 1, 2025.  What we do is that we continue to run our race, "Looking unto Jesus," and, as Paul said, "I press on...."  The past is past, yes, and the future is yet to be written, but our life is not a past life nor a future life.  Our life is Eternal Life, Who is our King and Savior Jesus Christ.  Live in the Eternal One.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for Eternal Life 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

"PEACE ON EARTH"

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men of goodwill."  (Luke 2:14)

A prayer request for the persecuted Church in Turkmenistan: "Pray for unity.  The small Christian Community in Turkmenistan is weak due to divisions between various denominations."  This was also true of some of the Church in Eastern Europe during communist rule.  I have shared this quote before:  "Only a fool fights in a burning house."  

I could/can never understand why people who are under persecution, literally fighting for their lives against a common enemy, end up fighting among themselves.  The American Church also battles this disunity continually.  

Our text is integral to the Gospel, Who Is Jesus Christ.  Indeed, it was a part of the glorious news to the shepherds on the hills outside Bethlehem.  May we all be, "....men of goodwill", in 2024 and always.   

Father, in Jesus' Name, may You, my Peace, shine forth from me always.  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