Better than we can imagine is what the LORD has prepared for us, if we truly love Him. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him” (1Corinthians 2:9 KJV).
Promises
Willingness to Do the Will of God
“Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether My teaching comes from God or whether I speak on My own” (John 7:17 NIV). Willingness to do the will of God must precede God’s willingness to teach us. Either we impose our will upon God, or we submit our will to His. From the beginning it was so. Angelic or human moral agents from Lucifer to Adam to us, all have the necessity of admitting God is in a position of preeminence over us. Anyone reading the Gospel of John, who is willing to do the will of God, will understand Jesus’ claims of divinity and sacrifice for our sins.
What Is His Son’s Name?
Paul asked Christians, “Hath God cast away His people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite” (Romans 11:1 KJV). Paul reminds us, “Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them [the Jews] to jealousy” (11:11). With that I ask my Jewish friends, “Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in His fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is His name, and what is His son’s name, if thou canst tell?” (Proverbs 30:4 KJV). What is the name of God’s son? “His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 KJV). Jesus
Impossible Choices
Life is full of seemingly impossible choices. The right choice is always to trust God. “Abraham believed God” (James 2:23) about a future line of descendants through his son Isaac. Then, in the “obedience of faith” (Romans 16:26 KJV), God commanded Abraham to kill Isaac as a human sacrifice. When Abraham complied, Yahweh stopped the sacrifice, substituted a nearby ram, and confirmed, “In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed My voice” (Genesis 22:18 KJV). Every offspring possessing faith — Arab, Israeli, Gentile — becomes a child of Abraham (Romans 4:16; 9:8).
Canary in the Coal Mine
Just as canaries warned of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide gas in coal mines, antisemitism on American college campuses in support of Hamas and condemning Israel in the wake of the 2023 attacks against Israel from Gaza predict a future hatred for Christianity. Jews were initially targeted in Nazi Germany, but next Christians such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer were silenced, too. “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:3 KJV).
Son of Hamas
“Son of Hamas” (2010) is the story of Mossab Hassan Yousef, son of a founding leader of Hamas. Mossab experienced his father’s humanity, witnessed Hamas’ duplicity torturing its own in Israeli prisons, was recruited as a spy for the Israeli Shin Bet for about ten years, then was converted to Christ. He wrote, “As long as we continue to search for enemies anywhere but inside ourselves, there will always be a Middle East problem.” “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
Enemy Shall Come In Like A Flood
“When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19 KJV). This is a promise of the LORD’s clear, unrelenting, and overpowering response to any action of the enemy, which is presently or about to inundate us; but, on the sole condition, we cry out to Yahweh with absolute certainty that He alone can and will prevent or neutralize the opposition to our advantage.
Shall Not Lack Any Good Thing
“O fear the LORD, ye His saints: for there is no want to them that fear Him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want [lack] any good thing” (Psalm 34:9-10 KJV). God promises no lack of supply to those who fear or reverently trust Him. Saints describes the holy lifestyle of those supplied because they are seekers of the LORD. Compared to the hunger of young lions, His saints will be better cared for. Throughout the history of the godly, we do not know how God will keep His promises, but we know He will! Are we afraid of embarrassing God by asking Him to keep His Word? Or, are we more afraid of embarrassing ourselves? Again, it is God’s problem to keep His promises, not ours! LORD, increase our faith! Amen and amen.
Freely Give Us All Things
“He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32 KJV). How can anyone make such a broad claim? Even more, what is to prevent anyone from making an application of this promise that would unsettle especially parents in front of their younger children? This is how we teach ourselves the promises cannot mean what they sound like they mean. Or, do we diminish the value of the promises to make ourselves more comfortable with our religion? Shouldn’t we immediately determine in our heart that God means what He says, and it is His problem or business to use such inflammatory language that would excite the imagination of young children? “But when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer [allow] the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14 KJV). LORD, grant us the heart and outlook of children that we may better imagine what you so generously offer to us. Amen and amen.
Children of the Righteous
The children of the righteous are those children which God has given to a Christian parent or parents. “For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of Him” (1Samuel 1:27 KJV). Faith will die out on the planet in one generation, if we fail to raise our children in the “nurture and admonition of the LORD” (Ephesians 6:4 KJV). God gave children to the parents, not the state or church. Just ask the parents of Moses. The awesome duty of Christian parenting is more than providing food, clothing, shelter, education, and socialization. “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1Timothy 5:8 KJV). Our children’s impression of who God is comes from how they see us act, not just our talk. I am still amazed at what I hear my children say all these years later. They were listening more than I thought! Would you do things differently? Of course you would! But, our Heavenly Father has especially given us His promise that our children will meet us in Heaven. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6 KJV). Do we believe it? Remember, Christian parent, you are not responsible to God for how He keeps His part of this promise. Do all you know how to do on your part, and leave the fulfilling to the God of the Impossible!
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