BEHIND SO THIN A COVERING!

 

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

 

BEHIND SO THIN A COVERING!

 

Ex 12:12-13

12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.

13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

 

Do you suppose there were any skeptics hiding behind the bloody doors that night in Egypt? Were there any that thought the entire concept to be hard to believe? I wonder if there were those who just did not feel safe or secure behind so thin a covering. If you are feeling a bit vulnerable beneath that thin covering of blood, consider the following:

 

It’s not our understanding that is important!

 

Prov 3:5

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

 

Isa 55:9

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 

It’s not the strength of our faith!

 

Matt 17:20

20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

 

Can you imagine one cowering behind the bloody door doubting its ability to save? See him stack chairs and furniture against that same bloody door lest death should enter. Doubt and uncertainty held hands with weak faith throughout that night of terror but in the morning faith stood alone.

 

It’s not our righteousness but His faithfulness!

 

Titus 3:5-6

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

 

A wicked man in deed and thought huddles behind the bloody door wondering if his sins would so anger God that the blood would not be enough. He is determined to do better if he should last the night. In the morning it is not his resolve that has saved him but the blood that covered him.

 

It was the blood that saved them, not their righteousness. And a little child by that blood in Goshen was just as safe as Moses or Aaron or Joshua or Caleb. It was the blood that saved them. – D. L. Moody

 

Dear Lord, though I am unworthy, sometimes insincere and often fearful, yet I huddle behind the blood of the Lamb. Thank you for the safety of the shed blood. AMEN

 

AS LIGHTS IN A DARK WORLD!

 

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

 

AS LIGHTS IN A DARK WORLD!

 

Phil 2:13-15

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: [grumbling and challenging with questions]

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

 

          Positive people produce a positive impact on the world around them. They are pleasant to be around, and others are attracted to them. Today is a fresh page for us and we have a choice. Here are a few suggestions from the Bible on how to have a bright outlook.

 

          Understand that God is working in you! If you are a child of God, a believer, then you have the Holy Spirit living in you. He will work non-stop to accomplish marvelous things for you and through you. You are stronger than you think you are.

 

          Stop whining! Grumbling only makes the task more miserable because of the focus of your thinking. “Do all things without murmuring and disputing.” This is a conscious choice to not cave-in to circumstances. You can’t stop the rain, but you don’t have to shake your fist at the sky.

 

          Be different! You live in the midst of a crooked and perverse world. It is a dark place. Christians live as if they know a secret and indeed, they do because they know God is involved in every aspect of their life. Shine on!

 

Dear Lord, let me work in your strength and not my own. Let me shine with your brightness. AMEN

 

MOVED WITH COMPASSION!

 

Monday, May 19, 2025

 

MOVED WITH COMPASSION!

 

Matt 14:14

14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

 

Five times in the New Testament it is recorded that Jesus was “moved with compassion.” Matthew mentions three occasions and Mark points out two. The Greek word that requires an English phrase to translate is the word splagchnizomai and means “to have the bowels yearn” or to feel sympathy or pity. Certainly, we have all felt that knot in our belly that is somehow connected to strong emotions!

 

Jesus was able to see a person’s need and pain. It is amazing that he was not constantly weeping! He saw the multitude without direction or care. He saw the sick in need of healing. He saw the unpaid debt that needed to be forgiven and the leper that needed to be cleansed. He noticed it all and his “bowels” turned over and over in sympathy.

 

Several times Jesus asked His disciples to partner with him in relieving suffering. Once He told them to give the multitude something to eat. Yet another time He asked them to pray that laborers would be provided. What can we do when our sympathies overwhelm our resources?

 

There was never a situation that Jesus did not respond to with prayer no matter how large or small the problem. When he missed the fellowship of the Father and the comfort of heaven he prayed. When he was hungry and tired, he prayed. If he was tempted, he prayed. When criticized he prayed. When hanging on the cross he prayed. There was never an emergency that would not yield to prayer.

 

Dear Lord, I run to you this morning with a long list of needs and concerns. I am doing what you did when overwhelmed. Lord, please meet the needs of my friends today. AMEN