“You have to read it—Yes!”
“You have to read it—Yes! You have to believe it—Yes!”—Jakob of The Netherlands
“They shall give thanks to the LORD for His mercy,
(Psalm 107: 8-9 NASB)
And for His wonders to the sons of mankind!
For He has satisfied the thirsty soul,
And He has filled the hungry soul with what is good.”
I am not a seamstress who can sew a hemline; yet I love a pattern.
I am not a mathematician who can figure out the math within my head; yet I love the systematic way of calculations.
I am not an artist who can paint, draw, sculpt, or even weave; yet I love the image these gifts produce.
I am not a musician who can make music on an instrument placed into my hands; yet I love the melody the sound produces within my soul.
I am not . . .
Maybe, you are not . . . Also.
Nonetheless, we can love and be thankful for those who are . . . .
The psalmist wrote the words:
“They shall give thanks to the LORD for His mercy,
(Psalm 107: 8 NASB)
And for His wonders to the sons of mankind!”
In the quiet moments of this early day, I am considering—
What I am most thankful for during this season of life.
- For a husband who sits beside me inside a church, singing a melody in my ear.
- For a sisterhood of sweet souls who gather beside and behind me at a Christian concert and who openly proclaim their love for the Lord.
Consider & Be Thankful for what we have been given.
- For a worldwide church of believers, one that encompasses our classrooms, our workplaces, our homes, our churches, and all the places in-between.
- For sons and daughters gifted to us to love.
- For aging parents who remind us of the gifts of our childhood, the memories, they daily gave to us.
- For friendships, for those who walked into our lives and took up residence within our hearts.
For so much, God, we have been given, and we are thankful.
- For You, Father.
- For the gifts of Spirit.
- For the Lord Jesus Christ, for His mercy, how He does not give us what we deserve for our sins.
- For the Heavenly Father’s amazing grace, for His salvation of our lost souls.
- For the Holy Spirit that leads us through the gift of each day.
“For He has satisfied the thirsty soul,
(Psalm 107: 9 NASB)
And He has filled the hungry soul with what is good.”
This morning, the Spirit guided me to read a passage found within the apostle Peter’s first letter written to those believers who were scattered throughout the known world (of that day). The apostle wrote to those who had been chosen by God, who had said, “Yes, I believe. I confess You as Lord.”
As I read the first nine verses of Peter’s letter, I was reminded of the opportunities, the occasions, the trials, the joys, the hurts, the tears, the laughter, the days, the EVERYTHING God gives to us, given so we can accomplish His will—the salvation of all people.
Just the other day, I read that we have topped a new population number: 8 Billion!
Then I saw another startling statement that went something like this. Of all the problems in the world, the problem of “LOSTNESS” remains the largest problem.
That is exactly what the apostle Peter wrote about within his letter.
See these verses found within God’s Word, and as we read together, may we note:
- The Patterns.
- The Systematic Way of Calculations.
- The Gifts of God’s Beautiful Art.
- The Melody of Sound.
The Way God uses us, consecrates us, prepares us, leads us, and gifts us to reach others who are lost.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
(1 Peter 1: 3-9 NASB)
to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
Time—6 months—A pattern they both have projected to follow.
Territory—South—A place they both have established to go.
A Temporary Stay—An insight given to know where they will go—next.
Time—Territory—A Temporary Stay—That is what each believer has received.
Relationships. Opportunities. Occasions. Lifetimes.
Time To Witness.
- We Love You, God.
- We are so glad we are here, exactly where You have placed us.
- We are so thankful we are given Your Great Commission.
Territory to Walk.
- Help us become closer, to walk closer to You than we’ve ever been “a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
- Help us to see the world of souls who surround us—the Lost—who need to know the goodness of God’s deliverance “to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade way, reserved in heaven.”
- Help us to share the gospel message, the most inexpressible joy [one] filled with Your glory.
A Temporary Stay.
- Help us lead others to believe in Him—in Jesus.
- Help us to reveal to others how to obtain You through faith that leads to the salvation of their soul.
- Help us become proclaimers of the truth (as Jakob of The Netherlands proclaimed):
“You have to read it [the Word of God]—Yes!”
You have to believe it [the Word of God]—Yes!”