The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3).

You have read what is one of the most beautiful promises given in all of the Scriptures. It is the promise of the Lord Jesus that He is preparing a place for believers and that He is personally coming for His people. Randy and Abigail trusted the Lord Jesus for salvation later in their lives. Their son was grown and had moved away from home when they trusted Christ to be their Savior. Oh, how they wanted their son and daughter-in-law, Micah and Kirsten, to come to faith in Christ. Then the perfect situation developed for them to be a testimony to their son and his wife. Randy and Abby’s granddaughter was ready to come home from her first year in college. Micah and Kirsten couldn’t wait until they could go to pick her up and bring her back home. As they shared in the joy of the upcoming reunion, Randy spoke from his heart of his anticipation of the Lord’s coming for them. He said, “Micah, you know how excited you are to go and get Marsha from college. Think of how excited the Lord Jesus must be as He prepares to come for His children.” It suddenly brought a new meaning to Micah and Kirsten about what their parents had been sharing for quite some time. How about you? Are you excited about the Lord’s promise? You can be if you know Him as your Savior.

For today: He’s preparing a place for us, and we know for sure that He is coming for us. Maybe today!

“Let not your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1a).

It was the night before the Lord Jesus would go to the cross to pay the terrible penalty for our sins. It was something for the Lord Jesus that I cannot begin to describe, and certainly it was dreadfully upsetting to the disciples. The Lord Jesus was leaving, and they could not come with Him. Even though He had explained that He was going to die and rise again, they did not understand it. All they knew was that their cherished Master was leaving. The Lord Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled” (John 14:1). He then reminded them of Who He is (14:1b), what He knows (14:2a), what He assures them of (14:2b), what He is doing (14:2c, 3), and what He promises (14:3b). What is causing your heart to be troubled today? Take time with your Savior, and think of what He tells us in John 14.

For today: I am so glad that I belong to the Lord Jesus. How about you?

“According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death” (Philippians 1:20).

The Apostle Paul demonstrated such amazing grace and strength as he underwent such heavy trials and persecution. The translation into our English wording as “earnest expectation” describes the significance of his anticipation. This phrase expresses the firm and eager anticipation of that which is coming but not yet here. Years ago my wife and I were to take the train from Elyria, Ohio, to Syracuse, New York. We were to board the train around three o’clock in the morning. I watched the rails with outstretched head in anticipation of seeing that light on the approaching engine. Our ticket said that the train would come. I anticipated the arrival with an “earnest expectation”! This is exactly the way we believers must live. His Word says that He will come again. We eagerly anticipate that the Lord Jesus is coming. Today may be the day we meet Him. But if not today, then magnifying Christ by life or death is our highest priority.

For today: We need to ask the Lord for the same “earnest expectation” that was the Apostle Paul’s.

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally” (James 1:5).

Three Godly believers, each separated by many miles, were facing different situations in their lives. The first believer was facing the possibility of changing jobs. It wasn’t clear to him as to what he should do. His current place wanted him to stay, and two new places both wanted him to come. The second believer was in the middle of a very difficult surgery which was not going very well. She remembered the faces of the concerned family members who waited in the special room which the hospital made available. How would she as the surgeon face them? The third believer was counseling a couple that didn’t seem to be making progress. The counseling was in trouble in the counseling center. Even after four sessions with the counselor, this couple still wouldn’t look at each other, and of all things, they still weren’t speaking to each other. At the same moment, all three believers stopped what they were doing and again asked God for wisdom. God loves to hear His children ask Him for wisdom. How about you? For what do you need the Lord’s wisdom today?

For today: God knows everything. Go ahead and ask Him for wisdom!

“Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9 NKJV).

“Have you ever witnessed the word ‘cantankerous’ in person?” Bob asked his brother-in-law Peter. “I mean to tell you that our son and daughter-in-law have the most cantankerous, miserable neighbor I have ever seen. I would not have responded so nicely to that old man. He has treated them miserably for over a year,” Bob continued. “Then Karita did something that the neighbor didn’t see coming. She made him supper. She baked homemade bread, a full three course supper, and homemade apple pie! That little lady who is barely five foot marched right up to his door and handed him his supper. She said to him, ‘Mr. Charleston. You don’t seem to like us, but I want you to know that we surely love you. Good night,’ and she walked off the porch and came home. You won’t believe the difference in the old man,” Bob said laughing. “You know, Bob, I think that Peter must have had Karita’s neighbor in mind,” Peter said. How about you? Do you have anyone who is cantankerous that needs you to be a blessing?

For today: What a wonderful mission to which we believers are called.