Your Daily Crossroad
God’s Time
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2 Peter 3:8)
Time is an amazing concept. We can only understand time by how we experience it and how it applies to our lives. Our lives revolve around a 24 hour day, 7 day week, 4 week month, and 12 month year, give or take a few days. We measure time in increments by celebrating markers such as birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries. We discuss time in terms of how fast or how slow it passes. We know that time is moving but we cannot see it, so we watch the sun rise and set, and we keep track of time with our watches and clocks. Our entire life is one constant span of time, uniquely purposed by God for each one of us.
Peter writes to tell us one more truth about time: God’s idea of time is not the same as ours. We understand time as a constant, linear progression but God sees time without boundaries, limits or schedules. Can you imagine one day being as a thousand years, or vice versa? The Lord’s definition of time does not fit into our neat box of calendars, clocks and sunsets..
As Christians, we must learn to live in God’s timeline. We must surrender to His timing in all things. And we must be careful not to think that we have control over time, even our own. 2 Peter 3:10 says it best: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” There is a day coming when this earth will burn and those of us in Christ will be safe with Him. For those not in Christ, they will spend eternity forever separated from Him in a terrible place called Hell. God is waiting even now just for one more person to come to Him, before it is too late. One day could take a thousand years to complete, or a thousand years could be as one day, and then time is up. Is there time for one more person to come to Jesus? Only God knows; and that is why our time here on earth is precious.
Maybe you know someone who needs to come to Jesus. Maybe the Lord has been telling you to share His message with them, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Maybe time is running out and this may be their last chance. Do not let time pass by carelessly. One day the Lord will say to Jesus that time is up for people on earth. Are you ready for that time?
When I read this I thought, everyone knows someone who needs to come to Jesus. May we take advantage of today, we are not guaranteed tomorrow. Let us not pass up an opportunity to lead someone to Christ.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Romans 10:9-11
Power in Weakness
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Are you feeling weak or powerless? If so, then take comfort from God’s words to the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9. In this verse and the surrounding passage which speaks of Paul’s so-called “thorn in the flesh” are several valuable lessons for Christians:
1. We are inadequate to face the difficulties of life on our own. Therefore, we need God’s help and his resources.
2. Human limitations and weaknesses provide perfect opportunities to experience the love and power of God. Therefore, we should call on the Lord in our time of need.
3. God’s grace is more than enough to meet every challenge that we face. His resources are unlimited.
Far too often when we feel weak or powerless we respond with fear, anger, despair, and/or desperation. Yet, this verse reminds us that God is an endless source of strength. No problem that we face is too great for him to solve. When we feel overwhelmed by our problems, we are in a perfect position to experience the salvation of the Lord who gives power to the weak and help to those in need.
Paul went on to say, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10).
Paul had the proper perspective. God’s presence in his life transformed the negative situations into occasions for praise. We too can praise God in the midst of trouble because God is greater than our problems and he will give us the grace and power to deal with them.
After reading this today I pray we walk away with strength in knowing that God is indeed greater than our problems. Remind yourself of that every time you start to feel weak or powerless and you start to respond with fear, anger, despair, and/or desperation. He is greater!!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Playing in Concert
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith. (Romans 12:5-6)
During our granddaughter’s school band concert, I was impressed by how well this group of 11- and 12-year-olds played together. If each of them had wanted to be a solo performer, they could not have achieved individually what the band did collectively. The woodwinds, brass, and percussion sections all played their parts and the result was beautiful music!
To the followers of Jesus in Rome, Paul wrote, “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith” (Rom. 12:5–6). Among the gifts Paul mentioned are prophecy, service, teaching, encouragement, giving, leadership, and mercy (vv. 7–8). Each gift is to be exercised freely for the good of all (1 Cor. 12:7).
One definition of in concert is “agreement in design or plan; combined action; harmony or accord.” That’s the Lord’s plan for us as His children through faith in Jesus Christ. “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another” (v. 10). The goal is cooperation, not competition.
In a sense, we are “on stage” before a watching and listening world every day. There are no soloists in God’s concert band, but every instrument is essential. The music is best when we each play our part in unity with others.
Lord, You are the Conductor of our lives. We want to play Your song of love and grace in concert with Your children today. Amen.
This blessed me when I read it. What a fantastic way to describe being one body in Christ and the importance, the music is indeed best when we each play our part in unity with others.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Romans 12:3-8
The Bond of Peace
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3)
After I confronted my friend by email over a matter on which we had differed, she didn’t respond. Had I overstepped? I didn’t want to worsen the situation by pestering her, but neither did I want to leave things unresolved before she went on a trip overseas. As she popped into my mind throughout the following days, I prayed for her, unsure of the way forward. Then one morning I went for a walk in our local park and saw her, pain etched on her face as she glimpsed me. “Thank You, Lord, that I can talk to her,” I breathed as I approached her with a welcoming smile. We talked openly and were able to resolve matters.
Sometimes when hurt or silence intrudes on our relationships, mending them seems out of our control. But as the apostle Paul says in his letter to the church at Ephesus, we are called to work for peace and unity through God’s Spirit, donning the garments of gentleness, humility, and patience as we seek God’s healing in our relationships. The Lord yearns for us to be united, and through His Spirit He can bring His people together—even unexpectedly when we go walking in the park.
Have you experienced an unexpected encounter that revealed God working in a situation? How might you work toward peace and unity today?
When I read this I couldn’t help but think this was meant for me and I pray someone out there is touched as I was. Just today I said to my husband, I just can’t forget what they did and how they chose to handle the situation and my husband’s wise response was, is the frustration and hurt you are harboring in your heart worth missing eternity over and I started to cry, no one or thing or hurt is worth missing eternity over. Then I sit down after a busy day to do the devotion and God drops this right in my lap. So as I face this individual I will choose to work for peace and unity through God’s Spirit, not my own doing, donning the garments of gentleness, humility, and patience as I seek God’s healing in my relationships. My prayer today is that someone reading this can also find closure in a situation and rise above it.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Ephesians 4:1-6