The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” (Matthew 6:26).

I am convinced that it doesn’t take much to entertain me. Every afternoon at about 3:00 I go out into our side yard, open the gate and walk up to the bird feeder. I’m usually whistling while I’m filling the feeder with seed. Soon I hear the little birds flying into my neighbor’s bush as they watch me getting their supper ready by filling the bird feeder with seed.

The sparrows are such a vivid lesson to me. They do not seem to fret that I will forget their bird seed. They do not wring their little wings in despair that life is too hard. They just respond to my whistle and enjoy their supper. I realize there is more to our lives than waiting for a whistle (although I have to wonder if that’s what some folks are hoping for!) But the lesson is clear. I can trust my Heavenly Father. I am more important to Him than the birds He cares for daily.

For today: How will this thought play out in your life today? Aren’t you glad that you belong to your Heavenly Father?

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15).

Louise and her husband sat across from Pastor Kenward. Taking her husband’s hand, she sobbed and began to shake as great tears of regret and remorse fell from her eyes and streamed down both cheeks. “You don’t know the terrible things I have done, Pastor,” she nearly choked on her words. “I want to believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again. I do believe He is the only way to Heaven. But I am too bad. He could never love me. He could never accept me. I’ve sinned too badly,” she adamantly said.

The wise old pastor said to her husband, “Justin, I don’t hug ladies other than my wife. But your wife needs a hug. This would be a good time to give her a hug.” After her husband hugged his sobbing wife, Pastor Kenward spoke to her. “Louise, I don’t need to know the things you have done. Everybody has done things they regret, including me. Believe it or not Louise, you sound just like the Apostle Paul. He thought he was the worst sinner, too.”

A great pastoral counseling conversation took place that afternoon as Louise placed her trust in the Lord Jesus to be her Savior. Have you asked the Lord to be your Savior? Please don’t think that you are too bad to ask Him for salvation. Of course, never think you are too good either!

Here’s what I am thinking right now: As the old hymn states, “Grace that is greater than all our sin.” Aren’t you glad for God’s grace?

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Can you imagine what Heaven would be like if entering it depended upon our efforts? I can just imagine the kind of bragging and boasting that would take place. We would be so proud of ourselves and our great accomplishments if the requirement for entrance to Heaven was achievable on our own merits. Can’t you just hear it now?

Some people would brag about their education.

Others would brag about their great accomplishments.

Still others would brag of their brilliance.

Perhaps some would brag of their humility!

Thankfully, the way to Heaven is a gift. It cannot be merited, neither can it be earned. The gift has already been purchased by the Lord Jesus, and He willingly offers it to all to accept by faith today. Those who know the Lord will assemble in His presence with great joy and thanksgiving because of His great gift of salvation. We will sing, praise, and celebrate with adoration unparalleled. But no one will boast of his own works. Every single redeemed saints will be there because of God’s grace and gift.

For today: I am so glad that I know the Lord Jesus as my Savior. Do you know Him? If you aren’t sure, would you take a moment and click the banner “Heaven” on my website.

“I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck and kissed him” (Luke 15:18-20).

Most folks have read the account of the prodigal son.

He profoundly disrespected his father.
He profoundly wasted his inheritance.
He profoundly wasted the fellowship of being well fed at the table of his father.
He did a lot of wasting!

Then the moment came that he hit the bottom of the barrel. He was miserable. This riotous Jewish runaway party boy was so hungry that he desired pigs’ food. That, my friend, is really the bottom of the barrel.

Wouldn’t it have been wonderful if he had turned around much earlier? Thankfully, when he did come to his senses, his father was watching for him. The father ran to him. I’ve often wondered if this is one of the only times that the son saw his father running? The lessons are profound for us today. If you are the prodigal, come home! If you have a prodigal, keep watching!

This is still true today: There is nothing comparable to the fellowship we believers enjoy with the Father. Don’t let anything interfere with it!

“Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke 15:10).

Several of the men stood in the foyer of their local church and spoke of the wonderful blessings that were taking place in the congregation. Fred was the first to speak. He said, “Two people asked the Lord Jesus to be their Savior at the end of the service. What a wonderful blessing.”

Terry agreed and added, “Yeah, just think! The angels of God are rejoicing in that these people are saved. I know the Bible says that somewhere.” Several of the men agreed.

“Well, to tell you the truth that verse is Luke 15:10, and do you want to know something?” Bob asked. The rest of the men nodded their heads in unison. “I know that the angels of God are rejoicing, but there is something even better than the angels rejoicing. It says that ‘there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God.’ This means that God Himself is rejoicing over one sinner that repents!” Bob continued. It was a great theological lesson in those few moments.

Each of the men walked away from the foyer thinking about how happy they were to see folks asking the Lord to be their Savior and remembering that God Himself rejoices over this.

For today: Have you asked the Lord Jesus to be your Savior? If so, do you know that your decision brought joy to the Lord Himself?