The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24).

The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ changes lives! It has been my joy and privilege to watch what the Lord Jesus does in the lives of people who place their trust in Him. Throughout my decades of ministry, I have rejoiced to see the great power of Christ’s justification in the lives of people who receive Him as Savior. Of course no one lives perfectly after trusting Christ. No one leads a sinless life after the moment of salvation. But there is a change. Those who truly trust the Lord Jesus as Savior are justified. This means that God has acquitted them of the verdict of condemnation, and He declares them to be righteous in His own beloved Son. Some people like to say that justification is just as if I never sinned. This is a cute little saying, but it falls very short theologically. If I had never sinned, then I would be innocent. Justification goes way beyond that. As one who has placed his faith in the Lord Jesus, I am declared to be righteous in the Son of God. Again, this does not mean that I am perfect and sinless. It means that I am justified. There can be no sweeter words to the believer than “acquitted of condemnation and declared righteous in Christ.”

For today: No matter what comes along today, as a justified believer of the Lord, it is going to be a precious day.

I am sorry friends. I just accidently sent the Daily Prescription for May 22nd. Every time I have done this by mistake, the Lord has used it for someone who needed it right now. I really do try not to hit the wrong the button. But I did it again. Sorry about that. Hope you […]

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1).

Paul knew his place. He loved being a servant! Paul knew his purpose. He was amazed to be called an apostle. Paul knew his pursuit. He was separated unto the Gospel of God. The matter was settled for Paul. God’s call was clearly upon his life, and the Lord had a purpose for him in the Gospel ministry. But friends, the great news is that although you and I cannot be an apostle (for an apostle had to be an eyewitness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus), you and I have the great privilege of being servants in the gospel ministry. Hank floundered from job to job. He was never satisfied. He was never happy. He was never pleased with his pay. He was never glad for the job. He always knew more than his managers. He always was smarter than his owners. Seldom could he keep a job for more than a month or two. Then he met Michael. Never had Hank met a person like this in his life. Michael was not arrogant. He was not hot-tempered. He was generally appreciative of what he often called “my many blessings!” The more Hank got to know Michael, the more he realized that Michael had something that he didn’t. It was the life-changing grace of the Lord Jesus Christ at work in Michael’s life. Hank realized he was really missing something. As sent ones in the world, we have the privilege of not only telling the Gospel, we have the incredible opportunity of living the Gospel!

For today: We may be surprised that the grace of God shows as clearly in our lives as it does. Rejoice to be a servant in the Gospel ministry.

“Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; for as much as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him” (Daniel 6:4).

God was blessing Daniel in the very pagan society of Babylon. Daniel was preferred above the other presidents and princes (Daniel 6:3). A wicked jealousy resided in the hearts of his subordinates. Surely there must be something to be found in this Daniel that would disqualify him from his present state and ministry. Finally these presidents and princes sought to trap Daniel in his love and faithful practice of prayer. Through treachery and trickery they deceived the king. You remember the story very well. No one was to pray to anyone except the king for thirty days. The trap was set. What would Daniel do? As we might expect, Daniel continued in his practice of praying and seeking the Lord. What a testimony this Daniel had. Even his bitter enemies could find no fault or occasion against him. What a great way for you and me to be living in the world today. Wouldn’t it be exciting if our enemies could find no fault or occasion against us except in our prayer life?

For today: Godly living in the world was not only good for Daniel; it is good for us today!

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou has set up” (Daniel 3:16-18).

How long has it been since you have read through Daniel chapter three? What a powerful demonstration of the work of the Lord in the hearts of the three Hebrew men as they stood before wicked King Nebuchadnezzar. As you remember, whenever the people heard the music playing, they were to bow down before the image of Nebuchadnezzar. Failing to do this would result in the loss of their lives. At the sound of the music, the great crowd of people fell flat before the image. To everyone’s amazement, there stood that day the three Hebrew men that we know as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They simply refused to bend their knee even if it meant their lives. They would not bow down to the image. Why? They knew that only the Lord, the true and the living God, deserved their worship. Even in the pagan land surrounded by violence and wickedness, they lived by a different set of convictions and principles. Friends, you know things are changing quickly in our world. As our culture and society grow in their pagan intensity, may you and I be people who remain gracious and kind, but above all may we be a people who remain true to our God and bend the knee to Him alone!

For today: May the Lord give you wisdom, strength, and courage today as you put Him first in your life as you live in such a pagan world.