I sometimes just say
“Lord Jesus, lovely Lord Jesus” over and over slowly, there is nothing
better or more healing... There hath not fail one word of all His good
promises. All the promises of God are “yea” and “amen,” and that’s
enough right there to go on. -- Dottie, my mother-in-law
Life on this planet can be tough. Jesus never promised otherwise:
“I have told you these
things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have
trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his
commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the
world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus
is the Son of God. (1 John 5:3-5)
The core
commandments to love, to trust, to live in Him, and to rest in
Him--these give us a victory over the world that is so obvious that John
says it is one of the “signs” that we are born of God. Personally,
I know of no one whose life speaks as loudly to these truths as my
mother-in-law. If you remember, when my wife was born, Dottie’s life was
a complete mess, ravaged by brokenness. Now some forty-odd years later,
her body is starting to break down. Yet listen to some of the words she
wrote in a letter to us:
- “It all about His business, I take care of His business, HE takes care of my business.”
- “LORD, it’s your body, if this is what you want for your body, be my guest!”
- “Jesus is the only true reality in my life. Every word that comes out of the mouth of God matters, just like He said. The rest is just a bunch of scrambling around and babbling.”
- “He is alive and real in me. How much closer can He get than ‘in’? Mercifully, He and I are inseparable. No thanks to me, He did it all. If so, I can trust Him, He doeth all things well!”
Yes, MY mother-in-law. (And NO, you can’t have her.) She is an
“unburdened overcomer” of the world. That characteristic of overcoming
the world is one of the signs that we have been born again.
Jesus, be the only true
reality in my life. I release my worldly burdens to You. I take on Your
commands which are not burdensome at all when I allow You to live them
through me in Your strength. Amen.
Today's Bible Verse...
Be submissive to those who are
older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another,
because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."—1 Peter 5:5
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
The
word "submissive" is often positive or negative based on its
relationship to us personally. It's nice having someone serve us
submissively, but serving someone else submissively is hard work.
Unfortunately, we are selfish way too much of the time. But God is at
work in direct opposition to anyone who is full of pride and unwilling
to serve others, especially if those "others" are older believers!
Whether it's easy to wear the clothes our Father demands or not, we are
to intentionally clothe ourselves with humility!
Father, thank you so much for the great heroes of faith listed in Scripture. Thank you for those other heroes of faith who have shared their examples and lives with me. Bless them with strength and health. And Father, please use me to bless and to serve all of your children, especially those who have lived many years in faithful service to you and your Kingdom. Because of the grace of Jesus, and in his name I pray. Amen.
The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.
Today's Verse Illustrated...
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