Your Daily Crossroad
24
Dec '18
Perfect Timing
24
Dec '18
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. (Luke 2:6)
The label said, “Don’t Open Until Christmas,” but the grandchildren cried, “Hurry up; open it!”
Patience is a virtue, and we recognize the importance of perfect timing. But we often have a hard time waiting. This is especially true when we are hurting and want relief, or we are anticipating something special.
The same holds true in relation to God’s work in our lives. We suffer a loss, wrestle with what seems to be unanswered prayer, or face a spiritual struggle, and soon we cry, “Hurry up, God!” We wonder why God hasn’t acted, and the “delay” often causes us to question God.
Or how about when we reflect on Christ’s second coming? We eagerly long for a world free from sin, Satan defeated, injustices set right, and all things made new. So we cry, “Come, Lord Jesus; come quickly.”
For ages believers waited for the birth of the Savior and won-dered, “How long?” But God was not slow. He had a plan, and in the fullness of time—when the time was ripe—God sent Jesus.
In our lives, as we wait for God’s help or for the second coming, we remember God’s promise that “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). God might not come when we want, but we can trust him—his timing is perfect.
Lord, we see the present, but you grasp eternity. We view only a part; you understand the whole. Help us to trust your wisdom. Renew us and your world, we pray. Amen.
When I read this devotion I felt it was fitting for today, Christmas Eve. You may be feeling down and discouraged but find hope in knowing you can trust Him and remember, His timing is perfect. We see the present, He sees eternity. Remember this today.
Have a beautiful and uplifting Christmas Eve in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Luke 2:16-20
21
Dec '18
Try a Little Kindness
21
Dec '18
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering. (Colossians 3:12)
Notice the word clothe. The Greek word literally means “put on.” What Paul is saying here is that when we wake up in the morning, we ought to get dressed spiritually and emotionally as well as physically. When we wake up in the morning and decide what to wear, we should also ask ourselves, “What kind of attitude am I going to wear today?”
Paul says kindness is a choice. It is something we can choose to “put on” every day.
Kindness is “love in action” — a practical expression of love. It is visible and active, not just emotional. There is a song that says, “Find the need and fill it. Find the hurt and heal it.” That is kindness.
But why should we be kind? After all, kindness can be risky. We might be misunderstood if we are kind to others. They might think, “Why is this person being so nice? What’s in it for him?” People we are kind to also might take advantage of us. They might become parasites with the attitude, “Oh, here’s a sucker. I’ll milk him for all he’s worth.”
Despite the risks, we are to be kind for two reasons. First, we are to be kind because God is kind to us. Ephesians 2:8
says,
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.
Grace and kindness always go together. Poet Robert Burns said that the kind heart most resembles God. We should be kind just because God is kind to us.
The other reason we should be kind is that we want people to be kind to us. We want to be treated right. Jesus said,
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them — Matthew 7:12
If you are rude to other people, they are going to be rude to you. But if you are kind, most people will want to respond the same way. Proverbs 21:21 says,
He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
In Proverbs 11:17 we read,
The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
So when we are kind, we are really doing ourselves a favor.
So often we excuse ourselves when we are unkind. “That person deserved it.” “She just annoyed me.” “If I’m kind, he will see me giving an inch and he will take a mile.” Today, let’s ask the Lord to point out to us when we’re unkind and how we can respond with the kindness of Jesus instead, and pay attention to what He reveals.
I pray this devotion blesses you, I feel it is a wonderful reminder that is needed for each and every one of us. Let’s respond with the kindness of Jesus today.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is 1 John 4:9
20
Dec '18
Living Out “Love” This Christmas
20
Dec '18
And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:28-31)
Loving God means faith in action. If that’s the case, how do we live that out day to day? Answer: obedience. Faith in action means obeying the commandments of God. That pretty much covers the first part of the scripture referenced above – to love God with everything we have. But today, we’re going to focus on the second commandment in the verse: “love your neighbor as yourself.” “Yeah, right,” you might be thinking. “You obviously don’t know my neighbor.”
First, let’s understand what the word “love” in this context means. It has nothing to do with feelings. It has nothing to do with emotions. This meaning of “love” doesn’t even have anything to do with liking another person. It’s a decision of the will. But how can we love somebody we don’t even like? Well, trust me, it’s possible. Here’s how: Treat them fairly. Show them respect. Be honest with them. Keep your word. Show them that in spite of your differences or irritations, you still care about them as a person. That’s what it means to love. It’s choosing to love people, even when you don’t always like them. It’s about showing the same love and grace that God showed each one of us when He sent His Son to save us from our sins. It was out of love that Christ was born – so that He could die on the cross for you and for me.
But that’s not all. How many of us really know our neighbors? I mean more than just the casual, “Hey!” when we’re getting into our cars to leave for work or grilling out in the yard. Loving your neighbor as yourself also means loving them enough to share this Good News of Jesus Christ with them. And what better time than Christmas to share the true reason for the season with your neighbor? Now, that is faith in action. That is living out LOVE this Christmas!
This devotion blessed me. So often we fail to reflect The Love of Christ. It’s not a pick and choose thing, we must love continually, even those you may not like, give God the opportunity to help you love them. We must reflect Christ’s Love this Christmas and always. Live out love this Christmas.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Matthew 1:21
19
Dec '18
Christmas: It’s About Being with God
19
Dec '18
Did you know that Christmas is about God wanting to have a relationship with you?
You might have thought it was about presents, or peace on earth, good will to man … that sort of thing – and it is in a lesser way. But at the center of the Christmas message is a God of love who desires to be with you.
That’s right. God wants to spend time with you.
That’s why the Father sent Jesus to be born as a little baby. It set in motion this whole plan of love in Jesus’ death and resurrection that would break through the barrier of sin and reunite mankind with a loving Heavenly Papa.
Hanging out with mankind was God’s idea from the beginning. The Bible says that God walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day in the Garden of Eden. The Father sent Jesus because he wanted to renew that kind of intimate fellowship with us.
During the Christmas season we often sing the classic hymn, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” but have you ever thought about what this familiar song means?
The text is based on the biblical prophecy from Isaiah 7:14:
…Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
The name Emmanuel literally means “God with us.” God gave Jesus to mankind as the first Christmas present.
The Apostle Paul tells of the wonder of this idea several times in his letters.
…God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Col. 1:27)
And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. (2 Cor. 5:18,)
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:10)
Jesus Himself made it clear that relationship with God should be our highest priority in this life.
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.(John 15:7-8)
It is God’s will that we remain in fellowship with Him for all eternity. We see this in the beautiful hope-filled words of Apostle John in his revelation:
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. (Rev. 21:3)
This is the glorious news that we proclaim to the nations, that Jesus is Emmanuel. By His shed blood, He has ransomed captive Israel – and now He lives with us through the precious Holy Spirit.
So have a very merry Christmas knowing that God loves you and wants to be with you. May you know the presence of your Heavenly Father in a special way during this blessed season. And may you join with God’s people in singing this glorious hymn, both now and forevermore:
“Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel, shall come to thee oh Israel.”
With Christmas fast approaching I feel it is necessary to post devotions that remind us of the true reason for Christmas. I don’t believe we can be reminded to much. I pray today’s devotion continues to ignite an understanding of the true purpose for the season now and after. What an incredible gift given to each and every one of us if we would just receive it.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Luke 1:76-78