The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

I will call her Shelly (not her real name).

What a difficult time Shelly was going through. If something could go wrong, it seemed to for her. She had a difficult childhood. Throughout her teen years she never seemed to fit in with “the popular crowd.” At work she seemed to always answer the phone with the most unpleasant customers. Her dad often berated her for not turning out like her doctor sister. Sometimes Shelly felt like everything and everybody was against her. In a particularly hard time, she picked her Bible up, and in her regular reading she came to Romans 8 and read the full chapter. Suddenly she came to the wonderful verse. Let me share that verse with you right now.

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

She stopped and read it again. What an impact it had on her life! We’ll think a little more about this tomorrow. For now, think of the joyous blessing of having God be for us!

For today: No matter what comes along throughout your day, if you know Christ as your Savior, your God is for you!

Here’s a wonderful verse and then let’s listen in on a conversation!

“And this is His commandment, that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment” (1 John 3:23).

Have you ever wondered what the phrase to “believe on the name of His Son” means?

Riley and Mark were talking about this question in the break room at work. “When the Bible speaks about the Lord’s name,” Mark said, “it means everything about the Lord. It has to do with what He says, Who He is, what He does, and what His purpose is.”

Riley was quiet for a moment, and then thoughtfully said, “So believing on the name of the Son of God basically means I accept for fact everything the Bible says about the Lord Jesus Christ.”

The men had such a good discussion on their fifteen-minute break that morning. Riley concluded by saying, “Mark, I know I have a lot to learn about Him, but with all my heart I do believe what the Bible says about my Savior.” With that it was time to get back to work. How about you, friend? Do you “believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ”?

This is my goal for today: I want my life to testify to the fact that I believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. How about you?

“For ever, O LORD, Thy word is settled in Heaven” (Psalm 119:89).

Make no mistake about it. God’s Word is fully trustworthy. God is not in the business of rethinking and rewording. He has written His letter to us through some forty different individuals covering a period of some 1,500 years. God’s Word was “breathed out” to each author, and they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Take a moment to read 2 Peter 1:20-21 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

I want to read God’s Word.
I want to personally embrace God’s Word.
I want to obey God’s Word.
I want to rely upon God’s Word.

How thankful I am for God’s Word. How about you? I’d love to have you take a few seconds to reply to this little devotional and share with me what you are reading these days in God’s Word. I’ve been reading through the book of 1 Samuel. How about you?

Four words! Paul told the Philippian believers to do something that would be such a blessing to them as well as testimony to others. In our translation of God’s Word, they are four, just four, words. We need them just as much as the Philippian believers needed them hundreds of years ago. Here they are.

“Rejoice in the Lord” (Philippians 3:1).

The word “rejoice” is the Greek word chairo (KHAH-ee-ro). It denotes finding our joy in the Lord Jesus Himself. It is a gladness that comes because of our personal relationship with the Lord. It is part of the fruit that the Holy Spirit grows in our lives as we learn more about our precious Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

I most certainly do not depend upon the government to give me joy.
I most certainly do not depend on the culture and society around me to give me joy.
I most certainly do not depend on the circumstances of my life to always give me joy.
I most certainly do, however, find great joy in the Lord Jesus. He is my Savior and Lord. He is building His church and preparing a place for His people. He is my coming Bridegroom. He is faithful and worthy of my trust and in Him I find great joy. Do you know the Lord Jesus and have a personal relationship with Him? If not, if you will go to my website, www.michaelpeck.org and click the banner “Heaven,” you will discover what I mean by a personal relationship with Him.

This is true, my friend. Despite circumstances, knowing the Lord Jesus goes far beyond happiness. Such a relationship will give you joy in Him.

I have a question for you today. Ready for it?

It will focus on your home, place of work and local church. Ready for it? Here’s my question. What would it be like in these places if everyone in these places was just like you?

You’re probably smiling right about now. But think with me about this. The Apostle Paul told the Philippian believers something that I find very striking and powerful. He said,

“Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as you have us for an ensample” (example) (Philippians 3:17).

This is not the arrogant speech of a man that is filled with pride. Rather, it is the quiet, humble, gentle encouragement to watch the pattern of living of those who love the Lord. Yes, we do build our lives on the Word of God. Yes, we are followers of the Lord Jesus. However! If there are godly believers, men or women who genuinely are walking with the Lord, their pattern of living should be an encouragement and testimony to us.

Here is the powerful thought I am genuinely desiring to embrace personally. WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE AROUND HERE, IF EVERYONE AROUND HERE WAS JUST LIKE ME? Not arrogance. Not boasting. Not pride. This is the way that every believer should be living so that we can be Philippians 3:17 kind of folks.

One more quick thing. If you are looking for a gift for graduation, wedding, or just an encouragement for yourself or a friend, my new book Just What I Needed is now available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Target or directly from Baptist Church Planters at: bcpusa.org/product/just-what-i-needed/. All sales proceeds go directly to Baptist Church Planters. You can encourage a friend with this book as well as support missions.