Revelation 21:23
Yonder in the better world, the inhabitants are independent of all creature comforts.They have no need of raiment; their white robes never wear out, neither shall they ever be defiled.They need no medicine to heal diseases, "for the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick." They need no sleep to recruit their frames--they rest not day nor night, but unweariedly praise him in his temple.They need no social relationship to minister comfort, and whatever happiness they may derive from a*sociation with their fellows is not essential to their bliss, for their Lord's society is enough for their largest desires.They need no teachers there; they doubtless commune with one another concerning the things of God, but they do not require this by way of instruction; they shall all be taught of the Lord.Ours are the alms at the king's gate, but they feast at the table itself.Here we lean upon the friendly arm, but there they lean upon their Beloved and upon him alone.Here we must have the help of our companions, but there they find all they want in Christ Jesus.Here we look to the meat which perisheth, and to the raiment which decays before the moth, but there they find everything in God.We use the bucket to fetch us water from the well, but there they drink from the fountain head, and put their lips down to the living water.Here the angels bring us blessings, but we shall want no messengers from heaven then.They shall need no Gabriels there to bring their love-notes from God, for there they shall see him face to face.Oh!what a blessed time shall that be when we shall have mounted above every second cause and shall rest upon the bare arm of God!What a glorious hour when God, and not his creatures; the Lord, and not his works, shall be our daily joy!Our souls shall then have attained the perfection of bliss.Evening"He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils."
Mark 16:9
Mary of Magdala was the victim of a fearful evil.She was possessed by not one devil only, but seven.These dreadful inmates caused much pain and pollution to the poor frame in which they had found a lodging.Hers was a hopeless, horrible case.She could not help herself, neither could any human succour avail.But Jesus pa*sed that way, and unsought, and probably even resisted by the poor demoniac, he uttered the word of power, and Mary of Magdala became a trophy of the healing power of Jesus.All the seven demons left her, left her never to return, forcibly ejected by the Lord of all.What a blessed deliverance!What a happy change!From delirium to delight, from despair to peace, from hell to heaven!Straightway she became a constant follower of Jesus, catching his every word, following his devious steps, sharing his toilsome life; and withal she became his generous helper, first among that band of healed and grateful women who ministered unto him of their substance.When Jesus was lifted up in crucifixion, Mary remained the sharer of his shame: we find her first beholding from afar, and then drawing near to the foot of the cross.She could not die on the cross with Jesus, but she stood as near it as she could, and when his blessed body was taken down, she watched to see how and where it was laid.She was the faithful and watchful believer, last at the sepulchre where Jesus slept, first at the grave whence he arose.Her holy fidelity made her a favoured beholder of her beloved Rabboni, who deigned to call her by her name, and to make her his messenger of good news to the trembling disciples and Peter.Thus grace found her a maniac and made her a minister, cast out devils and gave her to behold angels, delivered her from Satan, and united her forever to the Lord Jesus.May I also be such a miracle of grace!Today's reading: Psalm 77-78, Romans 10 (NIV)Today's Old Testament reading: Psalm 77-78 For the director of music.For Jeduthun.Of Asaph.A psalm.
1 I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands,
and I would not be comforted.
3 I remembered you, God, and I groaned;
I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.
4 You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.
5 I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;
6 I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart meditated and my spirit asked:
1 Brothers and sisters, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.3 Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.6 "or 'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).8 But what does it say?"The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.===
turning, wandering.A son of Nahorand father of Abraham and ancestor of Christ (Gen.11:24-32; Josh.24:2; 1 Chron.1:26; Luke 3:34).SeeNumbers 33:27, 28.The Man Who Died Half WayAlong with his three sons, Abraham, Nahor and Haran, Terah migrated from Ur of the Chaldees to Haran, where he died.The reference to him serving other gods led some of the Jewish Fathers to think of Terah as a maker of idols (Josh.24:2).Why did Terah die at Haran?Was it not his intention to go to Canaan (Gen.11:31, 32)?
It was God's purpose to separate Abraham from his kindred (Gen.12:1 ), but Terah and Lot left with him, an exodus, perhaps, Abraham could not prevent.Lot, although he reached Canaan, was a constant grief to his uncle.The death of Terah seems to suggest that complete separation unto God often means the severance of some of earth's dearest ties.Terah is also a type of many who step out for Christ but whose hopes of discipleship die half way.Beginning in the Spirit they end in the flesh.Halfway converts never make wh*lehearted saints.Are you at Haran, or is yours the joy of living in Canaan?You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:43-44, TNIV).I am certainly not proud of the fact that I tend to have little or no patience with road hogs and seem to find ample opportunities for expressing my less-than-favorable opinion of the way they drive.I am working on my attitude and learning some lessons along the way.
We once lived in a small but rapidly growing town just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina.Because the town has outgrown its winding country roads, traffic from the city into our community was a daily nightmare.At one particular spot, a double lane narrows to a single lane.The change is clearly marked by several strategically placed signs and most people - the nice velvet people - pull into the single left lane long before the road narrows, knowing the right lane will soon merge with the left lane.
The sandpaper people, on the other hand, spot the merging lane signs and consider them an open invitation to speed ahead, worming their way into the long line of waiting cars.I consider it my personal responsibility to educate these road hogs in "The Ins and Outs of Traffic Courtesy According to Mary," by refusing to let them barge in front of me and secure a spot in "my" line.I never make eye contact with these sandpaper drivers, thus denying their existence while inching along as close as possible to the car in front of me, determined to hold my ground.
One day, however, I met my match.I saw him coming but stood firm in my resolve to enforce my "don't let 'em in no matter what" rule.When he tried to pull in front of me, I ignored him.He honked.I feigned deafness.Finally, in one last-ditch effort to merge before his lane ended, the man rolled down his window and yelled, "Look!" I couldn't help myself.He was holding up a napkin that read "Pleeeeeeeease!" I burst out laughing and motioned for him to pull in front of me.He applauded and danced a seated jig in celebration of his hard-earned place in line.
Life is like that - sandpaper people trying to capture our attention, ignoring the signs, breaking the relationship rules while barging into our lives.It takes a sense of humor to navigate the tumultuous waters of difficult relationships without capsizing.The secret of joy-filled relationships is to count on God's strength instead of our own.Joy comes from a continual reliance upon Him to hammer down the in our difficult relationships, making the path straight and pointing us in the right direction.In Philippians 4:11-12, the Apostle Paul says, "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.I can do everything through him who gives me strength." This pa*sage can also be applied to having healthy relationships and could easily read, "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every relationship by depending upon the power of God's love at work.I can Father, I want to thank You for loving me even when I am so unlovable.Please teach me how to deal with difficult people in a way that pleases and honors You.I want others to see Your unconditional love at work in my relationships.Help me choose to forgive those who have hurt me and look for ways to find joy in the midst of it all.
K and the days of summer