The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me” (Matthew 11:29).

Many years ago Karen and I had the opportunity of traveling to the Philippines. I had the wonderful opportunity and privilege of preaching to the missionaries in their annual conference. Following the conference I spoke several times in local churches as well at a Bible college graduation exercise. Karen and I were so blessed as we met wonderful believers and precious Filipino people. One of the things we will never forget was the impressive size of two water buffalo plowing side-by-side under the direction of one much smaller Filipino farmer. He controlled the mighty beasts with a very small stick. These water buffalo became easy to maneuver by the farmer because of the yoke. The Lord Jesus invites us to be yoked to Him today. This means that He will be in charge of our lives and set the direction in which we should go. I am blessed to be in the yoke with the Lord Jesus. How about you?

For today: The Lord Jesus is worthy of my devotion and adequate for every situation.

“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).

Sue was having her morning Bible reading time. It was just dark enough at her writing desk that she reached over and turned on the small lamp beside her Bible. The warm soft glow lit up the writing table as well as made it easy for Sue to read the print in her Bible. She read the verse from the book of Galatians that is our verse for today. Stopping to think about the subject of doing good unto all men reminded her of what the Lord Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount. He reminded us that we are the light of the earth. By our good works people will glorify our Father in Heaven. From that day forward, Sue prayed every morning that the Lord would give her the great opportunity of doing something that would be good for someone each day. How about you? To whose life will you be a blessing by doing something good today?

For today: Think of the many ways to be a blessing to others today.

“Thou art my God, and I will praise Thee: Thou art my God, I will exalt Thee. O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever” (Psalm 118:28-29).

What a grand statement of assurance it is to be able to say, “You are my God!” This changes the way one faces life with all of its joy as well as all of its heart aches. When we come to know the Lord Jesus as our Savior, we begin the blessed journey of understanding every day that He is our God. Regardless of how the circumstances may appear, God is always good. Therefore, He is to be exalted, and my thanksgiving is to come before Him. I am so grateful that He understands my ways. He understands my hurts and my frustrations. In the midst of the deepest times of anguish and the happiest days that one could ever experience, He is God. It is a wonderful joy to be able to say, “He is my God!”

For today: Do you have this wonderful assurance that He is your God?

“Make me to go in the path of Thy commandments; but therein do I delight” (Psalm 119:35).

What a great prayer for us to ask the Lord frequently throughout our day. The psalmist asks the Lord to help him to go in the path of the Lord’s commandments. The idea of a path is a track through any property caused by people who are continuously walking on it. When we ask the Lord to help us to go on the path of His commandments, we are actually asking Him to help us walk in the wise way of obedience to Him. Others have gone before us who have walked in obedience to His commands, and others will walk behind us. So for today I’m praying that I will be a good example to those who are coming along behind me. I want to joyfully read God’s Word and apply it to my life. How about you? How will this verse play out in your life today?

For today: “God’s way is the best way. I’m going to be asking the Lord to help me obey joyfully. How about you?

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesian 2:10).

Clarinda stepped back and looked at the finished product. She loved working with her elderly dad in the family wood working business. The floor clock she had designed herself was now finished. Because the clock stood just over seven feet tall, 5’2” Clarinda had invested a good bit of time on a stepladder. Her elderly dad admired the attention she gave to every detail of the clock, including the area at the very top and back of the beautiful grandfather clock. Several days before, her dad had teasingly said, “Honey, no one is ever going to see way up in the back over there!” Now the clock was finished. It was beautiful in its design. Clarinda thought to herself, “I love this clock, but I know it’s far from perfect. How great it is to know that because I belong to the Lord, I am His workmanship. It is a privilege indeed.” How about you, friend? Do you understand that when we trust Christ to be our Savior, we then have the privilege of obeying, serving, and living for Him? These are a few of the characteristics of being His workmanship.

For today: Far better than being a beautiful grandfather clock, we function as His beautiful workmanship. I wonder how this will impact our lives today?