The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“O LORD God of Heaven, the great and awesome God” (Nehemiah 1:5).

God is in His Heaven, but all was not right in the world of Nehemiah. While serving as the King’s cupbearer in Shushan the palace in ancient Persia, modern Iran, word came to him of the bitter and broken conditions of the wall of Jerusalem. He immediately sat down and sought the Lord. What a blessed pattern for believers who face difficulties! Instead of charging ahead and trying to fix the situation on his own, Nehemiah prayed and sought the Lord. He knew Him to be the great and awesome God. What is your course of action when hard times come? Some people pout. Others complain. Still others take matters into their own hands and react without thinking, praying, or planning. When that happens, sometimes the outcome is worse than the original problem. Nehemiah prayed. So must we.

For today: Don’t run ahead of the Lord and try to help Him by fixing things on your own. Pray!

“Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the scepter of Thy kingdom is a right scepter. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness” (Psalm 45:6-7).

The Psalmist was thrilled to think of the mighty throne of the living God. This speaks of the rule and reign of our blessed Lord. His throne is forever. His scepter is right. He loves righteousness and hates wickedness. What an awesome God to Whom we belong and Who we love! Andy was watching the news with his wife and remarked about the trouble in the world. “I just can’t believe what some of these little tyrants do to their own people. It is sickening to see the afflictions of these wicked dictators.” Sheryl, his wife, agreed and said, “Isn’t it great to belong to such a wonderful Lord Who someday will make all things right?” With that Andy turned the news off and concluded the day with a prayer of thanksgiving for Who God is and that His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom of righteousness.

For today: Read the newspaper with the Scriptures in mind. Our God is at work in the world.

“But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you” (I Peter 5:10).

Peter knew about sufferings. Peter knew a lot about what the Lord wanted to produce in us through times of trials and tests. We believers are called unto His glory. When we go through hard times with Him as our Lord, He makes us perfect. This does not mean we become sinless or without error. This word “perfect” actually means to “be rendered fit, complete.” The picture here is of a fishing net that has been torn. After the morning catch is hauled in and processed, the fisherman works on the net and mends the damage. That net is said to be perfect. It has been put back together and is ready for the next round of fish. In the hands of our blessed Savior, He mends us, restores us, and makes us ready to serve with renewed joy. That’s what He wants to do in each life that belongs to Him.

For today: When I am like a torn net, I can trust the hands of my Savior to restore and mend me. What an awesome truth!

“The faith of Abraham…Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations” (Romans 4:16, 18).

Paul speaks of the tremendous faith Abraham had in the Lord. God promised Abraham that through his seed many blessings would come (Genesis 12). As an old man, Abraham still believed, and God brought to him Isaac, which means “Laughter.” To illustrate the faith of Abraham, Paul employs an oxymoron. This is a figure of speech in which contradictory ideas are combined to produce a strong statement, such as “thunderous silence, sweet sorrow, and absolutely unsure.” We smile at these figures of speech, but what a wonderful oxymoron for us all when Abraham against hope still believed in hope! I want to be known for such faith in the Lord.

For today: What will be said of us someday? We too believe in the One who does the impossible!

“Howebeit, when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself…He shall glorify Me” (John 16:13-14).

The Lord Jesus is speaking to His disciples the night before He would go to the cross for us. The disciples are shaken because He spoke of leaving them and going to His Father’s house (John 14). Here the Lord promises the coming ministry of the Holy Spirit. How wonderful to know that those who have placed their trust in the Lord Jesus to be their Savior have the blessed Holy Spirit indwelling them. He loves to take the Word of God and guide us into all truth as He glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. That is one reason it is so important for you to invest some time reading God’s Word today. What will the Holy Spirit impress upon your mind and heart as you read the Scriptures today?

For today: Isn’t it amazing when you read a passage that you know you have read many times before and now today, suddenly a truth leaps from the pages to bless your life? That’s the ministry of the Holy Spirit.