The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him” (John 14:23).

Charity walked through the doorway into the living room of her elderly dad’s home. Immediately she hurried to his side and asked, “Daddy, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?” Her dad was holding the well-read Bible of his wife who had gone Home to be with the Lord several years before this. “Look, look at this!” he said to his daughter. “This is a love note that I wrote to your mother over forty years ago. I put it in her Bible where I knew I’d be preaching from the next Sunday. She kept my love note all these years,” an overwhelmed retired preacher said. “How fitting, Daddy, that Mom would keep your love note in the greatest love letter written to us from our Lord,” Charity said as she gave her dad a hug. Dear reader, do you sense how greatly you are loved by the Lord and the Father? What a blessing. Think of it! “My Father will love him and we will come and make our abode with him.” What awesome blessings to those who know the Lord.

For today: Think of this glorious fact. Think of it often throughout the day. Regardless of my feelings, I will rest in the amazing fact that not only does the Lord Jesus love me, so does the Father.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

Seven-year-old Kendall was struggling to lift the heavy package up onto the shelf. She was determined that she could do it on her own without any help from anyone else. She tugged at it. She pulled with all her might. She’d lifted it several inches off the ground before it dropped back down. Once more she lifted with all of her might and was just about ready to give up when her dear grandpa came up from behind and picked up Kendall and the package. The room was filled with the giggles of that little granddaughter and the joy of her grandpa as the mission was completed. What a picture for you and me today. We may have the notion that “we can do it by ourselves!” I want to tell you, friends, that you and I are the Kendall of the story. The Lord Jesus is the One who wants to pick us up along with our very heavy burdens. Don’t struggle under the burden and weight of your situation. You can do all things through Him!

For today: What a great joy in knowing “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

“Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did” (Acts 9:36).

Throughout my ministry, I have always appreciated the ministries of the ladies of our churches. I strongly believe that men have been called to the ministries of pastors and deacons. However, I honestly do not know where we would be without the faithful ministries of ladies who love the Lord and are willing to serve Him. Dorcas was one such lady. She was noted for her good works and almsdeeds. This actually means she was full of acts of kindness and generosity with those less fortunate. I want to be known as this kind of Christian. The day will come when the Lord takes me home. But for now I want to have a testimony of kindness and generosity. Those things come by personal choices and consistent living right now. Do you want to join me in this?

For today: When folks hear our names, what will they think?

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).

This verse contains abundant principles for victorious living as a Christian. It speaks of our allegiance (sanctify the Lord God in our hearts). It speaks of our alertness (be ready always). It speaks of our answer (to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you). It speaks of our attitude (with meekness and fear). Never are we to be arrogant in our walk with the Lord. We walk in a gentle, gracious and respectful way as we seize opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others. Probably sometime today someone will make a statement to you that will open the door for you to give an answer. It may be the telemarketer. It may be the person at the post office. It may be the mechanic. It may be one of a dozen people that you will encounter today. Ask the Lord to help you to be ready with an answer!

For today: Do not let the opportunities slip past you. Be ready to give an answer. Be sure to do it with gentleness and respect.

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

When I was the pastor of the Central Baptist Church of Binghamton, New York, a tremendous invitation came to me. I had the great opportunity to travel to the Republic of Mali with one of our church supported missionaries, John Jackson. I experienced overwhelming blessings as I ministered to the missionaries of Mali as well as worshipped with the dear believers in the Mali churches. For an entire week I preached in Timbuktu. I will never forget those incredible days. One of the highlights of my trip to Mali came at the conclusion of my time there. John and I, along with several other missionaries, were invited to the Embassy at Bamako to meet with the United States Ambassador. It was a tremendous privilege to meet the Ambassador and his gracious wife. As we left the quarters that day with a Marine escort, I thought of the great responsibility and privilege to serve as an ambassador of the United States of America. But far greater is the responsibility and privilege of being an ambassador for our Lord Jesus Christ. We represent the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! What an awesome privilege.

For today: If you know Him as Savior, you are His Ambassador. Represent Him in a worthy manner today.