The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And there was great joy in that city” (Acts 8:5, 8).

What a powerful report is shared with us. In those early days of the church, Philip preached in Samaria and shared the awesome truth of Christ. The end result was great joy in the city. So the question is, “Why was the city filled with joy?” The answer is found in Acts 8:6. They paid attention and took heed to what Philip was preaching. It reminds me that yesterday two kinds of people left church. The first kind attended a church service, paid little attention and left unchanged. The second kind worshipped in the service and left with their hearts convicted, blessed, and changed. Which would describe you?

For today: Knowing Christ is the greatest blessing that you can ever experience. Do you know Him, and if so, are you in His Word, heeding what He tells you and are you experiencing this joy?

“Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter” (John 13:7).

Poor Peter. He was so confused. The Lord Jesus had been telling them that He was going to be leaving them. On the night before His death on Calvary, the Lord Himself began to wash the disciples’ feet. Peter was appalled. He had NEVER imagined the Lord washing His feet. He ought to be washing the feet of the Lord Jesus. In a beautiful way, the Lord Jesus assured him that even though he wasn’t understanding the events of his life at that moment, He would understand later. For Peter this confusion was lifted in a few days when the Lord Jesus arose. How is it for you? Are you in a situation right now that you simply do not understand? Are you confused? As a believer, it might not be on this side of Heaven, but please know that someday you will understand. Trust the Lord Jesus right now.

For today: The day is coming when all our question marks will be stretched out into exclamation points. Someday we will understand.

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief…Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:3, 4).

Every day hundreds of people receive my Daily Prescriptions. It is such a privilege to come to dear folks in their homes, offices, phones, and schools. Obviously I have no idea what everyone is facing; however, I do know that on any given day, I am writing to folks who are experiencing heartaches and sorrows. Grief comes in many circumstances and situations. Here is the good news. The Lord Jesus understands exactly how you feel and wants you to come to Him for help and comfort (Hebrews 4:15-16). People might say to you, “I know just how you feel,” when they really have no idea. The Lord Jesus, however, really knows just how you are feeling. He not only knows everything, He has experienced it. Come to Him for help and comfort.

For today: Thirty-one years ago today our little son, Jeffrey, went to Heaven. I can tell you that the comfort and help of our Savior is very real. It can be yours today.

“When I consider Thy Heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; What is man, that Thou art mindful of Him?” (Psalm 8:3-4).

Bill, Mary, and their five boys loved to go camping. It was a chilly summer evening when the fire was crackling, sending sparks from the fire pit. Dad led his family in their evening prayer time by reading from Psalm eight, and the timing was incredible. Just as he read about “the heavens being the work of God’s fingers, the moon and the stars which God ordained,” a meteorite streaked through the skies and made quite an impression upon the entire family. Little Frankie said, “Wow, Dad! How did you do that?” The rest of the boys giggled as Dad tried to assure them that he had it all timed out just perfectly. Then he spoke quietly to his family and reminded them that the same God who put on such a marvelous show for them in the vastness of the night skies really cares about each of them. “In fact,” Dad said, “when the Bible says ‘what is man that you are mindful of him,’ it actually means that God thinks about us and that we are on His mind!” How awesome is our God.

For today: The Lord might not send a meteorite to demonstrate His power for you today; but just remember that you are in His thoughts and on His mind!

“For I reckon the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

It certainly is not uncommon for Christians to face difficult situations. We get sick. Our loved ones die. We don’t get selected for the promotion. We get flat tires, and sometimes really painful diseases strike us. When these things happen, we don’t respond by living in denial, pretending that everything is fine. We are honest with ourselves, and we are honest with others. Wonderfully, as we walk with the Lord, read His Word, and invest time with Him, we become more and more focused that our troubles are not forever. Glory is ahead. Eternity is forever! This gives me joy today. How about you?

For today: Paul knew much more about sufferings than I do. He’s the one who reminds us that in comparison with eternity, our sufferings can’t be compared to the glory that awaits us.