Today’s Devotional |
Today's Devotional
- Memory Verse
- And all that believed were together, and had all things common (Acts 2:44).
A Columbian was converted to Christ through reading the Bible. He had no personal contact with any missionary or Bible-teaching church. Soon thereafter, he came to the United States to live. Upon arriving here, he began searching for a fellowship of believers so as to learn more about his newfound faith.
Most people converted in America have some tie to a Bible-centered church that provides them with immediate fellowship and spiritual guidance. My Columbian acquaintance did not have this advantage and the maze of multiplied churches and denominations was confusing to him. Finally he settled on a solution. He decided to search until he found a congregation where love, such as he saw described in the New Testament Church, was evident among the people. He felt confident that test would enable him to settle on the right church.
Nearly twenty years have passed since I learned of that Columbian convert’s formula for finding fellowship. Yet, every time his experience crosses my mind I become a bit uncomfortable and an unwanted question surfaces: “If he had visited my church, would he have stayed and made it his own?”
When revival comes, Christian love is seen operating everywhere. Old differences are put away. People who have held grudges lay them aside and forgive as they have been forgiven. People become more important than money or property. Stinginess is stifled. The world looks on and says: “Behold, how they love one another!”
Daily Devotionals
“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God…”
Psalm 42:1, 2
“Soul Food” is a daily devotional written by Dr. Jack Van Impe that brings God’s Word to life.
“The Tender Touch” is a weekly devotional from the heart of Dr. Rexella Van Impe.
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- Soul Food
- Tender Touch
- Memory Verse
- Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? (Psalm 85:6).
Revival brings rejoicing! And all too many of us lack this quality of life. There is an attitude of hyper-criticism abroad today that saps the strength of churches and renders Christian testimonies ineffective.
Grumbling and griping characterize many groups of Christians. David wrote of his cup running over with joy, while present-day saints often appear to have cups running over with vinegar. Husbands grumble about their wives and wives about their husbands. Parents grumble about their children and children about their parents. In the world’s most affluent society, many grumble about their possessions. And this by people who claim to serve and love the Lord who had not a place to lay His head.
Churches grumble about pastors. When the servant of the Lord first arrives, there is a period of honeymoon when the members boast about their new pastor, but after the newness wears off and he steps on a few toes while preaching, groups gather after services to have roast preacher. While holding meetings in one area and preaching on revival, one couple told me they would like to have revival in their church but were afraid if it came the pastor would stay, and they wanted him to leave. Such negativism must be confessed as sin before revival can come.
Revival brings rejoicing because in revival, people stop looking at the faults of others and, instead, focus on the Saviour. He is the source of Christian joy. Three words can bring revival and rejoicing: “Looking unto Jesus.”
- Memory Verse
- Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand (Acts 4:4).
The friends of Mary Slessor, missionary in Africa, were amazed when they saw that she, a weak woman, had been able to mold savage chiefs to her will. One of the chiefs explained, “You have evidently forgotten to take into account the woman’s God.”
The Psalmist wrote: “God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God” (Psalm 62:11). Still, Christians often depend on weak willpower to win in the struggles of life and churches run programs that are little different than those produced by worldly organizations. It is time to tap the powerful resources of God.
When all sin is confessed and our relationships with others are right, we can expect the power of God to flow through us. Our surrendered wills will be channels for the Lord to use. But our wills do not surrender easily. Often old hurts are harbored and even pampered. Wanting our own way, we are afraid to submit to the will of God. Therefore we do not receive His best and we continue on our weak way.
Let’s stop wasting time. The days of opportunity are coming to their close. Life is ebbing away. Christ is coming soon. It is not enough to read books and dream about the good old days when revivals swept the land. What about revival in our time?
Do you long for God’s power in daily life? Would you like to see the aisles of your church filled with people seeking salvation and direction from the Bible? Then, be sure your heart is right with God and others. Pray for revival and expect the power of God in your life.
- Memory Verse
- I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him (Deuteronomy 18:18).
Commenting on this text, Matthew Henry said, “It is here promised concerning Christ, that there should come a Prophet, great above all prophets; by whom God would make known himself and His will to the children of men, more fully and clearly than He had ever done before...He should be like Moses, only above him. This Prophet is come, even JESUS: and is ‘He that should come, and we are to look for no other.’”
When Jesus came, His hearers marveled at His words. He spoke with authority. They said of Him, “Never man spake Like this man”
(John 7:46).
He spoke to the wind and waves and they obeyed Him.
He spoke to the demons and they were subject to Him.
He spoke to little children when others thought He was too busy for them.
He spoke to lepers and made them clean — to the lame and made them whole.
He spoke to the dead and raised them to life again.
He spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well, breaking through the social barrier that divided the Jews from the Samaritans.
He spoke to a dying thief and guaranteed him Paradise.
He spoke words of forgiveness to the woman taken in adultery and rebuked her accusers.
He spoke to the weary and called them to rest.
Listen. Jesus is speaking today. Read the Bible to hear His voice. Obey it to experience the abundant life.
His Word will abide forever!
- Memory Verse
- And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity (1 Corinthians 13:13).
No one would question the importance of love in the Christian life. Love is the very heart of the gospel. The good news is that God loves us and has given His Son for our salvation.
There is, however, another side to this love story. John puts it well: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another”
(1 John 4:11).
Simple, you say?
Perhaps. Yet sometimes difficult.
To live above with saints in love
Will be eternal glory;
To live below with saints we know
Is quite another story.
What will happen to our relationships with other Christians if we allow the love of Christ to rule in our hearts?
We will be quick to forgive. We will be slow to wrath. We will be careful with our words. We will shut our ears to gossip and grumbling. We will want to share our blessings. We will find it more blessed to give than to receive.
And that’s only the beginning! The Lord will continually give opportunities to show His love to others.
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another”
(John 13:35).
D. L. Moody said: “There are two ways of being united — frozen together, and melted together. What Christians need most is to be united in brotherly love.”
Amen, Mr. Moody. Amen!
- Memory Verse
- He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ (John 1:41).
Andrew was a finder.
We have no record of any of Andrew’s sermons. But we know that he found his brother Peter and brought him to Jesus. And Peter’s powerful preaching brought three thousand to Christ on the day of Pentecost. Certainly Andrew will share in the rewards of that great harvest.
When five thousand were hungry, Andrew found a lad with five barley loaves and two small fishes with which the Lord fed the multitude. Faced with the problem of feeding that huge crowd, Philip began to fret and figure how they could get money enough to buy each one a crust of bread. Not Andrew. He set out to find a solution. And his search produced a boy with a lunch that Jesus could use.
Some fret about problems and others find solutions.
All churches need more finders. When the finders are at work all church problems are solved. Bringing people to Jesus turns the coldest church into a place of warmth and joy. Bringing people to Jesus puts new life in any congregation. Bringing people to Jesus encourages pastors.
Pastors often move because their people won’t.
Andrew found his brother. He began looking for a convert right at home. The mission field is all about us. The field is the world. Jesus said the reapers in His harvest receive wages — rewards. You don’t lose by giving time to serving Christ. Here especially, finders are keepers.
Find someone for Jesus today!
- Memory Verse
- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
The Gospel is easy to understand. The difficult work in man’s salvation was done at the cross by the Lord Jesus. Any sinner can believe and be saved. And we are all sinners (Romans 3:23).
A good example of the power of the simple Gospel was given by missionary George Green. Here is his story:
“When I first went out to my mission field in Africa, the boat carried me up a wide, beautiful river flowing through the jungle, and as the sun set and the night came on, I listened with much misgiving to the roll of the war drums. They continued far into the night. The captain of the boat was uneasy and tried to dissuade me from going ashore the next morning, and I admit I was trembling with fear, But I found that ‘the Lord standeth within the shadows keeping watch above His own.’ After years of delightful labor I left the jungle on the same boat. As it came down the river, thousands of these same natives gathered on the shores near their villages to say farewell. As the boat came into sight, they broke into song, but not a war song. They were singing the hymn that is a favorite of most of them, ‘All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name.’”
The Gospel that reaches the heart of one who has never heard of the Saviour can surely change those who have lived in this good land where Bible preaching is so available. Nearly anyone we meet has witnessed the power of God in some life and that is a powerful influence in preparing hearts to receive the Gospel.
Share John 3:16 with someone you meet.
The simple Gospel still changes lives today!
- Memory Verse
- But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8).
The disciples longed to know all about the times and the seasons. They wanted the key of prophetic fulfillment. Instead, they were given a task... a responsibility... a work to do. They were to be witnesses for Christ; in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth.
There was one difference between that day and ours: they were to wait and then witness. The promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit was to be fulfilled on the day of Pentecost and they were to begin their witnessing following that great miracle. We are to wait and witness. We do not await the coming of the Holy Spirit for He indwells every believer at the moment he is born again... but we await the coming of the Saviour who will evaluate our service at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
The coming of the Holy Spirit would launch an era of witnessing. The disciples would be empowered by His presence within and Jerusalem would be shaken by their witnessing. The coming of the Saviour will end our opportunity for witnessing, for at His coming we shall be taken to heaven to be with Him.
The formula for witnessing given by Jesus has not changed. They were to begin where they were... Jerusalem ...and their area of responsibility encompassed the entire world. We are to begin where we are... in our own communities... our own cities and reach out to the world.
How are you doing in your “Jerusalem?”
I suppose this story has been told in a
variety of ways, but it illustrates so well the
heart-cry of all mankind.
As I heard it, a little boy woke up in the
midst of a violent storm, frightened by the
thunder and lightning, and cried out for his
mother. She reassured him, and told him
never to be afraid of the dark or the storm
because God was right there with him.
In a few minutes the child cried out again,
and the mother went back to his side and
reminded the youngster of her earlier assurance
that God was with him in the storm. "I
know," said the lad, "but I want someone with
skin on!"
Don't we all? Religions based on noble
thoughts or impersonal cosmic forces, or
centered around idols made of stone or wood, do
not satisfy the deep longing inside the human
breast for a God with whom we can have a
personal, living experience. We seek a God
we can touch -- Someone with skin on -- to be
our Example, our Saviour, and our Intercessor.
Centuries after the time when God himself
came down to the Garden of Eden in the cool
of the evening to walk, talk, and have fellowship
with Adam and Eve, sinful man had lost
sight of who God was and what He was like.
Mankind stumbled about in the dark, disobedient
and lost.
So God sent His Son to earth once again to
reveal to man what God is like and to restore
the lines of communication and fellowship.
And to help man relate to God, the Father
wrapped His Christmas present to the world --
the divine spirit and person of His Son -- in
human skin!
The Apostle Paul wrote, For God, who
commanded the light to shine out of darkness,
hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of
the knowledge of the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6).
Jesus, our Example
The old gospel song, "Where He Leads I'll
Follow," has a tremendous message in its
lyrics. One line in particular describes Jesus
by saying, "He the Great Example is, and
Pattern for me."
The truth is, Jesus gave us an example for
living as well as His life. When we see how
Jesus lived, how He acted, how He responded
to other people and the circumstances of daily
life, we catch a glimpse of how we should
live. Oh, if only we would ask ourselves,
"What would Jesus do?" when faced with
life's tough decisions and choices.
We know that His life was an outpouring
of love and joy. His very first recorded miracle
was performed at a wedding! He had dear,
cherished friends in Mary, Martha, and
Lazarus, in whose home He enjoyed rest and
fellowship. When Lazarus died and Jesus was
called, we're told He wept for His friend.
Onlookers even noted, Behold how he loved
him! (John 11:36). And Jesus raised Lazarus
from the dead.
The Gospels are filled with examples of
the compassion of our Lord. And Jesus, when
he came out, saw much people, and was
moved with compassion toward them (Mark 6:34).
We're told He taught them...and later
fed them.
Acts 10:38 tells how God anointed Jesus
of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with
power: who went about doing good, and healing
all that were oppressed of the devil; for
God was with him.
This is the example Jesus set for us -- He
went about doing good. In love and compassion,
He met people's needs, touching, healing,
and lifting them. And that is what we are
to do.
In today's dark world, you and I may well
be the only light some people will ever see.
We are the only hands of God that will ever
touch them. Ours are the only feet that will
bring the good news of the gospel to them.
I tell you, if Christ's hands are not extended
through ours, He will never reach out to
some people. That individual in your world
crying out for someone with skin on to come
to him...is waiting for you.
"Oh, Rexella," you say, "how could we
ever expect to be like Jesus and minister as He did?"
Because He said so. Jesus said, Verily,
verily, [truly, truly] I say unto you, He that
believeth on me, the works that I do shall he
do also; and greater works than these shall he
do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever
ye shall ask in my name, that will I do,
that the Father may be glorified in the Son
(John 14:12,13).
Jesus, our Saviour
A short time after the birth of Jesus, Mary
and Joseph brought Him to Jerusalem to the
Temple to be presented to the Lord, according
to the law of Moses. Two remarkable and
beautiful things happened there that day.
First, there was a priest named Simeon, an
old man who had been promised that he would
not die until he had seen the Lord's Christ.
When He saw Jesus, he took Him in his arms,
and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest
thou thy servant depart in peace, according to
thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation
(Luke 2:29,30).
There was also an 84-year-old prophetess
named Anna in the Temple. The Bible says
that she coming in that instant gave thanks
likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him
[Jesus] to all them that looked for redemption
in Jerusalem (Luke 2:38).
Why is it so significant that Simeon and
Anna recognized Jesus as the Saviour?
Perhaps God knew that we today needed to see
this confirmation of the faith of others in the
holy Scriptures. The majority then and now
could not see who He was and is because of
spiritual blindness. The Lord Jesus entered
the world He had created to rescue fallen man,
yet those with whom He desired to be
intimately associated rejected Him.
The Bible says, He was in the world, and
the world was made by him, and the world
knew him not. He came unto his own, and his
own received him not (John 1:10,11).
Jesus knew the price He would have to pay
as the Saviour of the world. The Christmas
card picture of Him being revered as a beautiful
baby in a manger was for a brief moment.
The adulation of those touched by the compassionate
prophet, teacher, and healer lasted only
a few days.
Jesus grew up in a humble home, in a
despised village. His brothers and sisters
misunderstood Him. The religious leaders of the
day hated Him. And finally, when He was
falsely convicted and crucified, His own disciples
forsook Him.
But He died for everyone to redeem all
mankind, willingly, by choice. He came to be
a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11).
Someone has said that Jesus would have
come to earth, suffered and died, to save just
one person. And I believe that is true. But it
is also true that, had the Lord been born ten
thousand times in Bethlehem, it would have
been ineffective...unless He had a birth in our
hearts. Only then is He our Saviour.
Jesus, our Intercessor
I've often heard the old folk proverb which
suggests that before one criticizes a person, he
should walk a mile in his shoes. The point is,
of course, that one cannot really understand
someone else's behavior unless one has gone
through their tests and trials.
The writer of the Book of Hebrews
reminds us that because Jesus, the Son of God,
came down and wrapped himself in human
skin and walked in our shoes, He knows what
we're going through...He understands. For we
have not an high priest which cannot be
touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but
was in all points tempted like as we are, yet
without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
Under the law of Moses, the role of the
high priest was to intercede before God for
mankind. And Jesus, who provided the
ultimate sin offering in His death on the cross,
now serves as our Intercessor in heaven before
the Father.
Having walked the rocky road of human
existence before us, He fully understands what
it means to be hungry, tired, and penniless
...to be misunderstood, slandered, falsely
accused...to endure heartache, physical pain and
suffering...even death!
Oh, He knows what you're going through,
He understands what you need...and He cares!
He sees your struggles, He hears your cry.
And He is reaching out to you.
I heard about a little girl whose mother
was in the hospital, and who was spending the
night alone with her father. Soon after her dad
turned out the lights, the little girl said,
"Daddy, are you there?"
"Yes, child," he said, "I'm here."
It was quiet for a moment, and then a little
voice asked, "Daddy, are you looking at me?"
What a joy to know that, in our darkest
hours, we can go ahead and go to sleep knowing
that Jesus stays awake all night looking
after us!
I love the beautiful words of the old song
that says,
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share;
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Just now, reach out and touch the "skin" of
Jesus the Lord, God's "unspeakable gift" of
love. Receive Him as your Example, accept
Him as your Saviour, trust Him as your
Intercessor.
In my daily Bible reading, I've been noticing
how much is mentioned about the hands
of our Lord. Again and again the Gospels
relate how He reached out to people in their
need and hurt and sorrow. And when He
touched them, they were never the same
again.
His hands healed the sick
After He began His earthly ministry, great
multitudes thronged about Him wherever He
went. Those who were sick, blind, and
lame -- even those marked for death with the
curse of leprosy -- came to Him seeking to be
healed and made whole.
When the hands of Jesus touched them,
pain and suffering ceased, diseases and
infirmities were cured, and lives shattered and
ruined by sickness were restored.
His hands fed the multitude
It was the hands of Jesus that fed the
multitudes who followed Him out into the desert
place to hear His words. When evening came,
Christ's disciples urged Him to send the
people away. But Jesus saw their hunger and
weariness and, in compassion, desired to
minister to them.
Taking a few small loaves and fishes --
barely enough for one small boy's lunch -- the
Lord blessed the food. Then His hands began
to break and divide the bread and fish into
portions which He gave to His disciples to
serve.
We're told that 5,000 men were fed that
day, not counting the women and children.
And when everybody had eaten all they
wanted, there were twelve baskets full of
leftovers! The hands of Jesus not only provided
enough...but plenty to spare.
His hands blessed the children
Loving children as I do, my heart is
touched to read the biblical account of how
the hands of Jesus blessed and comforted the
little children. He specifically told His disciples
not to prevent them from coming to Him.
And in my mind's eye, I can see the Lord
sitting down and opening His arms to them. As
they eagerly jostled about, perhaps He lifted a
toddler into His lap, shook hands with an older
lad, touched the cheek of a shy little girl. And
as His gentle hands patted little shoulders and
smoothed tousled hair, the Lord blessed these
little ones. Somehow I think they probably
never forgot that day when the hands of Jesus
touched them.
The hands of the Master
No doubt the hands of Jesus were strong
and powerful. Growing up around Joseph's
carpenter shop, He probably learned to hold
and use various tools to shape and assemble
wood into useful items. His hands knew how
to work.
It was those strong hands that later would
grasp a whip as an indignant Jesus drove the
callous money changers out of the holy halls of
the Temple. Those hands were instruments of
righteousness and justice.
It was those hands that reached out to lift
and save impetuous Peter who, after walking
on the water toward Jesus, took his eyes off
the Lord and began to sink.
There are so many other references to the
hands of Jesus that we could talk about. But
the single most important mention of Christ's
hands is when they were nailed to the cross.
A very dear, life-long friend gave me a
beautiful wall plaque, which I have hanging in
my kitchen. It says:
| I asked Jesus, "How much do You love me?"
"This much," He answered, and He stretched out His arms and died. |
Greater love hath no man than this, said
Jesus, that a man lay down his life for his
friends (John 15:13).
And who is Jesus' friend? The deeply
spiritual and very religious? The learned and
respectable? The proud traditionalists?
No, our Lord said that He was called a
friend of...sinners! (Luke 7:34).
The Apostle Paul reminds us that Christ
died for the ungodly...in that, while we were
yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:6,8).
It is strangely and beautifully significant
that the first person to benefit from Christ's
sacrifice at Calvary was a thief on the cross
next to His! Think of it -- the first person to
whom the Lord stretched out His nail-pierced
hands was someone totally unworthy of His
love.
Love-scarred hands
Some time ago my husband, Jack, and I
were guests at a Christian fellowship dinner in
another city. During the meal I got acquainted
and talked with a dear little mother who sat
next to me. After a while, with tears streaming
down her cheeks, she leaned over and
whispered the sad story of a wayward daughter
who had run away from home, mounted up
many debts, and fallen to the very depths of
sin, even into a life of prostitution.
"I pray for her every day," she said, "and
every time I hear from her I beg her to come
home. My husband doesn't make a lot of
money, so I got a job to help pay off the debts
our daughter made. I'm doing everything I
know how to do to help her. Please pray with
me."
When I reached out to take hold of this
precious mother's hands to comfort her, they
were rough and calloused, scarred by long
hours of hard work, week after month after
year. Those hands were scarred by love...by a
mother's selfless sacrifice and desperate desire
to reach and save her wayward daughter.
As I held those hands and prayed, I was
reminded of Christ's nail-scarred hands that
also were pierced for that lost daughter...and
for every lost sinner in the whole world. They
were scarred for me...and for you!
Just as the hands of our Lord ministered to
men and women, boys and girls, wherever He
went during His time on earth, so we today
can feel the touch of His hands in our daily
lives. His power is still available to us today.
In our times of pain and suffering, He is
still the Great Physician who lays His hands
upon us and restores our bodies. Whether our
healing comes through medication, the skill of
a surgeon, or by the power of faith alone, we
know that He is the source of all healing.
When we are hungry and experiencing a
lack of supply -- when we're empty physically,
emotionally, and spiritually -- Christ's hands
will bless and multiply the smallest things we
have to offer Him and make it sufficient to
meet our need...with plenty to spare.
When we've tried and failed -- when like
Peter, we're sinking into the depths of trials
and tribulations, with no hope in sight -- He
will come to us, walking on the waters of our
stormy sea. His hand will save us, lift us up,
and lead us safely to the solid rock!
The challenge of Easter
I love Spring! There's something special
about seeing the sun light up winter's gray
skies, and nature stir the grass and trees into
new life. Surely it is no coincidence that we
celebrate Easter in the springtime.
Each Easter we are reminded that Christ
died for us -- but He rose again! Without
Easter, we might be tempted to forget that it
is through the outstretched arms and
nail-pierced hands of Jesus that we have life
eternal. Had it not been for His sacrifice on
Calvary and His bodily resurrection, there
would be no everlasting life.
As we look around us and see all of nature
coming back to life anew, let us be reminded
of Christ's great love for us.
But let us also be challenged to reach out
in His love into every man's world with a
helping hand. Let us emulate our Lord's great
example and use the resurrection power that
flows through us to minister to the needs of
those around us.
Never forget that for many people in the
world, their first glimpse of Christ may be in
you...the only hands that will touch them in
love, that will comfort, lift, and bless them,
may be your hands.
Reach out whenever you can, wherever
you can, to whomever you can. However
unlovely or unworthy the person you find may
be, remember that Christ's sacrifice is
sufficient...and that He loves that individual just as
much as He loves you.
Do not be afraid to stretch forth your hand
to anybody. For you minister, not in your own
strength and ability, but in His love. So when
you reach out, it will not be just your hand that
touches them, but the hand of God through
you!
I love the beautiful gospel chorus that cries
out --
Oh, to be His hand extended,
Reaching out to the oppressed,
Let me touch Him, let me touch Jesus,
So that others may know and be blessed.
Look around you today and find someone
who is hurting or needy, someone who is in
trouble. Ask God to guide you to someone
who needs Jesus.
When you find them, don't hesitate or
delay. Go to them with a smile filled with the
light of His love and simply say...
"Give me your hand."
During the war in the Persian Gulf, when
Iraq's Saddam Hussein was aggressively defying
the whole world and turning a deaf ear to
any voice of reason, many people were
confused and dismayed.
Even facing the mightiest air force and
army in the world, this madman refused to
back down. Instead, he provoked even further
outrage by launching Scud missiles toward the
peaceful neighborhoods of Israel and into
Saudi Arabia.
"This is getting totally out of control," I
heard one man say, shaking his head in frustration.
And a news commentator noted that after
40 years of East-West confrontation, just when
the danger of the "cold war" finally seemed to
be going away, the Persian Gulf exploded.
I think most of us often feel that we have
very little control over what is happening in
our world today.
Scientists warn that the ozone layer high in
our atmosphere is being destroyed and the
earth may soon become uninhabitable. In the
meantime, our waste disposal systems can't
handle all the trash and garbage our huge
cities are piling up. Is our world out of control?
Economists tell us that most Americans
work almost five months of the year just to
pay their taxes, yet our federal deficit
continues to soar...totally out of control.
Medical experts report that disease and
suffering is still uncontrollable. New kinds of
cancer are being found almost every year, and
there is still no cure. AIDS, the modern
plague, continues to take its deadly toll among
increasing millions. In some parts of the
world, entire populations are at risk.
Police officials admit they are losing the
battle against crime in this country and the
world. Murder, rape, robbery, and senseless
violence make a mockery of our systems of
so-called law and order. People don't feel safe
going out on the streets -- or even inside their
own houses. Crime is out of control.
World political leaders have to acknowledge
that after two major wars, hundreds of
regional conflicts, and decades of work by an
international organization dedicated to
maintaining world harmony, we have not changed
human nature or materially improved relationships
between nations. The world's political
turmoil seems more out of control than ever.
Is our world out of control?
At the very beginning of the war in the
Persian Gulf, Jack and I were on national
television with Paul and Jan Crouch. Much of the
program was spent in prayer for our country,
especially for the men and women on duty
with our military forces. As Jan was praying,
she said, "Oh, God, send a legion of angels to
protect our troops!"
Instantly it went through my mind --
"They're already gone, Jan, because God says
He knows what things we have need of before
we ask Him, and that when we call on Him,
He will answer" (see Matthew 6:8; Psalm 91:15).
When it was my turn to lead in prayer, I
asked the Lord to send His angels to protect
the families our troops had left behind. I
called on the Holy Spirit to comfort the little
girls who had to go to bed each night without
their mommies or daddies, and to strengthen
the little boys who had to be the man of the
house with dad away. And I had the comfort
of knowing that even before I called out to
Him, God was ready to answer.
"I am in control!"
Later, on the airplane flying home, I spent
the travel time in prayer. And the Holy Spirit
dealt with me in such a wonderful way. Again
and again I sensed the voice of the Lord
saying to me, "Rexella, I am in control! I have
not left you ignorant -- I've told you what's
going to happen. Don't worry -- I'm in control."
I began to realize that because of God's
foreknowledge of what is going to happen, we
must be ever vigilant in our prayer life to be in
His perfect will. God provides answers for
our prayers beforehand, according to His
foreknowledge. When you pray, He already has
the answer for your prayers -- it's been ready
since the dawn of creation, waiting for you to ask!
God's plan is working out
When circumstances seem totally
unreasonable and unmanageable, the hand of God is
at work behind the scenes. When everything
in the whole world appears to be chaos from
man's point of view, God can see the pieces of
the puzzle falling into place according to His
plan. He is in control. The Word of God is
very plain about what will happen in this
world. No matter what man does, God will
still have His way.
Has He not spoken it? Shall He not bring
it to pass?
How exciting to realize that you and I can
be used of God to help bring about the fulfillment
of His plan on the earth. When we see
the world seemingly out of control, we have a
powerful weapon at our disposal to bring
about change and order! It's the weapon of
loving, compassionate prayer!
God knows what is needed before we pray,
and He's already prepared the answer. So if
He can depend on you and me to ask, He's
already prepared to take control of the situation.
Why we must pray
I believe if we fail to pray and ask God to
send the answer for a particular situation, it
may not be dispatched. There is great truth in
the old song that says:
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.
Does it seem out of control? Is the confusion,
strife, trouble, and pain more than you can
handle alone? Try prayer!
When you cry out to Him, God will give
you peace -- a peace that is greater than just
a temporary lull in the fighting, or a shaky,
uncertain cessation of hostilities. He'll give
you a peace that will surround you even in the
midst of trouble.
Jesus said, My peace I give unto you: not
as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not
your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid
(John 14:27).
Is the world out of control? As far as man
is concerned -- yes! But not for God. He's in control!
I pray that God will open our spiritual eyes
today and let us see the "long" view. And as
the fog of doubt and confusion rolls away,
we'll be able to see the glorious truth
expressed so well in the simple eloquence of the
old Negro spiritual that says:
HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN
HIS HANDS!
One of the nicest things about holiday
seasons is being with our family and friends --
having the privilege of sharing worship, food,
and fellowship with those we love. Oh, how
Jack and I cherish those blessed times with
special people and, in particular, with one
another.
Even when circumstances make it
impossible to be together, we can get in touch by
telephone or through the mail. We talk by
phone with friends and loved ones all across
the country...sometimes overseas.
We especially enjoy reading the many
beautiful cards we receive from those special,
thoughtful people who take time to express
their love.
The other day I was going through some
personal items I've saved over the last few
years -- news items and inspirational thoughts
clipped from newspapers and magazines,
cards and notes from family and friends...and
a very special collection of love letters from
my husband.
Jack and I have worked together in the
ministry over the years and haven't had to be
apartvery often. But on those occasions when
I couldn't travel with him to a crusade or
speaking engagement, he wrote me the most
beautiful letters.
A wonderful reminder!
I'd read those letters over and over,
hanging on every word. How wonderful to be
reminded that he loved me, missed me, and was
looking forward to having me with him again
soon!
I cherished every one of those wonderful
love letters. I still do. Over the years I've
gone back and read them again many times,
especially when I was feeling lonely, insecure,
or discouraged. And each time my husband's
loving words would lift my spirits and give
me new strength.
Needless to say, although I cleaned out
some of the accumulated "clutter" the other
day, I kept those letters!
As much as I treasure my husband's letters
to me, there's another love letter that is even
more precious to me. It's the greatest love
letter of all -- God's Holy Word.
God sent this letter special delivery to
me...to you...and to every single person in the
world. It's all about love -- what love is, how
God loves us, and the great love gift He has
given us.
For God so loved the world, that he gave
his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. For God sent not his Son
into the world to condemn the world; but that
the world through him might be saved (John 3:16,17).
Sadly, too often this greatest love letter of
all has been laid aside, unopened. The people
who most need to know that God loves them
haven't even read His letter.
Read God's letter
Some of those who have read it or heard
about it at one time or another have forgotten
its wonderful message. They need to go back
and read God's love letter again. I can testify
from personal experience that it is just as
meaningful the second, third -- twentieth --
time you read it as it was the first time.
You see, we need to be reminded daily that
we are loved. We need to see anew how
valuable we are to God -- that His love and mercy
to us are new every morning.
What an unspeakable thrill to know that
God loves us. We must hear it, relish it, think
about it, enjoy it. We need to claim the blessing
of salvation and His divine provision for
our every need. We need to claim the blessing
of knowing that He is preparing a place for us
so that we can be with Him one day, face to face.
We should read and reread God's love
letter to us because we need to be reminded of
the wonderful gift of His love which we have received.
Give thanks...and share
In these last days we must make a special
effort to express our appreciation for this great
gift of love. Then we must enter anew into the
spirit of love by doubling our efforts to share
the old, old story of God's great love with others.
Don't wait -- start immediately! Right now
-- today -- get out your "Love Letter" from
God, your Bible, and discover -- and share --
how much you are loved.