The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him” (Psalm 103:17).

He signed the card, “Happiness is my wish for you. You deserve it.” The recipient opened the card a few days later and read the thoughtful note. When she got to the closing, she smiled and whispered to the Lord, “Father, my friend meant well. But you and I know that I deserve nothing. It is Your wonderful mercy that has brought me to this moment, and it will be Your wonderful mercy that takes me to the next.”

God’s mercy (the Hebrew word is hesed) speaks of “His goodness, kindness, and loyal love.” Every day we believers rejoice and give thanks for His mercy. We deserve none of His blessings. It’s all about mercy!

Here’s a little thought to send you on your way for today: I don’t want what I really deserve. I want God’s mercy, and I thank Him for it. How about you?

Yesterday I shared with you about the unbelieving man who was very happy with all his possessions until he was confronted with eternity. Now let me share with you about the believer and his priorities.

The believing man sat at his desk and looked at his checkbook. To be honest with you, he was very grateful for the very significant amount of cash he had accumulated. That day he decided to add up his entire net worth. Taking all the funds in his portfolio, checking account, CDs, and combining them with the value of his home and possessions, he thought within himself, “You have been very blessed by the Lord. The more you have given to the Lord, His work and ministries and to others, the more the Lord has given to you!” and he praised the Lord for His grace and provision. He prayed that the Lord would give him wisdom to be a good steward of the funds entrusted to him. He asked the Lord to help him to have a gracious and generous heart.

Soon thereafter he read several verses from 1 Timothy which reinforced his attitude toward his financial situation in view of eternity and his gratefulness to the Lord. Here are the verses he read:

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:6-10).

Money is not the root of all evil. The unquenched love of money is. Later in the chapter, Paul told Timothy to remind folks that were blessed financially to be generous and not to be proud of their status.

Friends, you and I must have the right focus and the right attitude of gratitude as believers blessed the Lord.

Thank you for stopping in for another visit. Today I have a powerful verse that has a great impact from God’s Word. This is very important for every unbeliever to hear and every believer to focus upon. This verse gives direction for here and now as well as eternity. Let me share with you and this think of this for just a few minutes.

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37).

The unbelieving man sat at his desk and looked at his checkbook. To be honest with you, he was pretty pleased with the very significant amount of cash he had accumulated. That day he decided to add up his entire net worth. Taking all the funds in his portfolio, checking account, CDs, and combining them with the value of his home and possessions, he thought within himself, “You’ve done pretty well for yourself, old man. Lots of folks would want to trade places with you!”

A very short time later he and his wife were going out to dinner. Just ahead of him the traffic light turned red, and his eyes went to a large sign a little past the intersection. It said, “If you gain the whole world and die without Jesus, YOU LOSE EVERYTHING!” Wow! What a powerful impact that had on him that day.

May I ask about you my friend? Do you know the Lord as your Savior and have you settled the question of where you will spend eternity? If you are not sure, please go to www.michaelpeck.org and click the banner HEAVEN. Tomorrow I will share with you about the believing man who sat at his desk.

For today: I need the Lord’s help to keep my priorities in right perspective. How about you?

I shared a precious verse with you yesterday. It so spoke to my heart and mind that I want to explore it with you just a little more today. Thanks for stopping by. Please let me share the verse with you once again.

“Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of Hosts is His name…” (Jeremiah 50:34).

Though because of their sin and refusal to turn back to Him the children of Israel would experience captivity, that is not the end of the story. I am so grateful that with the Lord there is wonderful forgiveness and restoration. Think of the names Jeremiah uses.

“Redeemer” which gives the picture of the close relative, the kinsman redeemer, who makes the payment to buy back and restore all that had been lost by someone he cared about.

“LORD of Hosts” Yahweh Sabaoth is a powerful and wonderful name revealed to the children of Israel concerning their God. The word “LORD” is Yahweh or Jehovah and is the personal name of our God. It is found over 6,500 times in the Old Testament and means “the self-existent, eternal, unchanging God.” The word “Hosts” is Sabaoth and means “armies.” Our God is the eternal unchanging God Who is over all armies of men, hosts of angels, over all creation and the God of every battle His people face.

What a wonderful reminder for every Christ-follower. For those who know Christ as Savior, there’s one more thought in this verse. It is the word “strong”! In the happiest of days or the most difficult of days, our Redeemer, the Sovereign over all, is strong! He is stronger than any obstacle, battle, or worst of days. He can be trusted. He really can.

I’m sure that it has happened to you as well.

Today I was reading my Bible in my morning quiet time in the book of Jeremiah. It happened again to me. I know that I’ve read that passage many times. In fact, according to my notes, I used this text as one of my Daily Prescriptions years ago. But it seemed like this verse jumped from the pages of my Bible as if I had never read it before. I stopped, and you will probably laugh at me, but I shouted out loud, “YES, LORD! YES!” Let me share the verse with you and then a brief thought.

“Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of Hosts is His name…” (Jeremiah 50:34).

Though the Lord pleaded with His people to turn from their idolatry and wickedness, they refused. He sent prophets and warnings; they rebelled even further. As a result, they would go into Babylonian captivity for seventy years. But hope was not lost. In fact, Jeremiah proclaimed the Word of the Lord that the time would come when God’s people would turn back to Him and they would discover anew and afresh that indeed He is their very strong redeemer. Tomorrow we will come back to this text and I want to show you several really, really precious things about these names!

Just before you leave me today: perhaps you or someone you know is living far from a close walk with the Lord right now. There is still hope right now today, friend, because this same Lord wants to show Himself to be that strong Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts. There is great joy in His forgiveness.