Moments With God.
Advent Week 4
LOVE
Tuesday, December 21
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Psalms 117: Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD. (NIV)
Hallelujah! I will boast in the Lord. I will sing of His mercy, and tell of His favour and love in my life.
All throughout the Bible stories are told of the Father's working in the lives of ordinary people. Unassuming and sometimes ill-suited, at least through eyes of unbelief, God has raised leaders and nations. He also has laid low the wicked, the proud, and those who would mock Him and persecute His followers. In our day, however, the wicked seemingly prosper and escape judgement and wrath.
This must have been how Hannah, Elizabeth, and Mary felt prior to the miraculous occurrences in their lives. The wicked prospered in seeming unchecked fashion. Even still, God had his plan in mind. In each of these God-fearing women, faithfulness sees its reward. Not in the grand and awesome fashion that humans desire to see, but through babes given these women of faith. What love and mercy that God's justice and deliverance is pronounced and delivered through simple obedience.
As we look back on times before Christ, and after, the Lord raised up Elijah, from Tishbe, and even the likes of Luther, Wesley, and Bresee from humble backgrounds. However, humility, obscurity, and poverty are not necessarily the pre-requisite for God's work. Saul was a man of prominence and power when the Holy Spirit miraculously redirected his career path. Which brings us back to the wicked of our day. Saul was hunting down the early church with a "license to kill". Thank the Lord that he never gives up on us!
So, the Love of God is pronounced in this season. The Love the world does not understand. Love that can raise another great man, or woman, of faith to bring His Word and Will to life, Or, raise simple people of faith to serve and show the light of His Love to people longing for a hope.
Jason Tompkins
North Little Rock, Arkansas (USA)
Dear Father,
How I praise your name for making me ordinary and useable. For in my humble and ordinary state, you make me who I should be. And, through you, I can do anything!
Thank you for the wonderful examples of lives obedient to you that I see all around me. I especially thank you for Jason. He has become the best example for me and our kids. Your work in him is truly a miracle -- a blessing to all who meet him.
May the words given to him to write today's devotion bless all who read. May they allow You and Your love in their lives today and may we always find pleasure in being 'ordinary' for You.
Amen
(By Vicki Tompkins, wife of Jason Tompkins)
[Psalms 66,67] [I Samuel 2:1b-10] [Titus 2:1-10] [Luke 1:26-38]
or suggestions to Yvonne Edwards.
Edited: Dec. 13, 1999 2:50 p.m.
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