All Believers Wait with Eager Hope

Romans 8:23-25 (NLT)  ²³And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. ²⁴We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. ²⁵But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)

There are times when, as an author, I like to zoom in on a specific word and identify its various meanings and usages. So often this provides unique clarity and interesting perspectives. For example, let’s take a moment to consider the word “wait.”  One type of waiting implies staying in one place, such as sitting in a doctor’s office “waiting” for an exam.  Not a very exciting type of waiting.  Another type of waiting might be to put something off until a little later, such as “waiting” another day to clean out that cluttered closet. That’s even less exciting than sitting in a doctor’s office!

Today’s text gives us another understanding of the word “wait.”  When we come to new life in Christ, we are filled with the hope of a future glory. We do not have it yet; we must “wait,” specifically for the second coming of Jesus Christ when all things will be fulfilled. However this type of waiting implies being expectant, ready, and prepared. In my mind, I imagine this might be the same type of exciting, eager “waiting” a child would experience on Christmas morning.  Definitely meant to be a joyful experience! So the question comes, are we today engaged in the joyful, eager, expectation of Christ’s return?

 

Gracious Heavenly Father, our LORD God Almighty,

Fill us with renewed joyous expectation as we await the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the Name of Jesus Christ, our LORD and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotion All Believers Wait with Eager Hope was originally written for Monday, July 20, 2015; for Maranatha Devotional Guide, an Advent Christian Publication https://acgc.us   As the original author of this devotion, I reserve the right to update and share it on my current devotional blog Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

All Creation Waits with Eager Hope

Romans 8:19-22  ¹⁹For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. ²⁰For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

Being in my late-sixties, I have been blessed with many years to enjoy God’s amazing creation.  Through the years I have enjoyed various family pets, squirrels, foxes, and birds fluttering and romping about the yard with noisy interaction. Communication came in a variety of tweets, chatters, and woofs.  In addition, science has discovered that even plants can “communicate” to other plants by releasing certain chemical enzymes into the surrounding soil—although this seems more evident  in times of stressful growth conditions. 

Today’s text reminds us that when Adam and Eve brought sin into the world; they brought death and decay not just to humans, but to all of God’s wonderful creation.  How intriguing to realize even creation somehow anticipates a brighter future.  But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to joining God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay (c.f., vs. 20-21, NLT).

 

Gracious Heavenly Father, our LORD God Almighty,

Thank you for a glimpse of the glory we will share in the promised new heaven and a new earth (2 Peter 3:13).  Thank you for the promise of eternal life with you in a creation without death and decay. 

In the Name of Jesus Christ, our LORD and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotion All Creation Waits with Eager Hope was originally written for Sunday, July 19, 2015; for Maranatha Devotional Guide, an Advent Christian Publication https://acgc.us   As the original author of this devotion, I reserve the right to update and share it on my current devotional blog Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Best Witness

1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 (NIV)   ³¹So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ³²Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—³³even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. ¹Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

Even though I am now retired, through many years as an educator of young children, I understand that often the best teaching method is modeling.  Although children do not always listen to spoken instructions, they will readily copy what they see.  How ironic that this is also true in the adult world.  There is a famous quote with numerous variations dating back to ancient Chinese, ancient Japanese, and ancient European cultures—One picture is worth a thousand words.  The point is this: our neighbors may not listen to our verbal witness, but I assure you they pay keen attention to our actions. In fact, we may be the only billboard for Christianity they will see.

In our text today, we discover a wonderfully simplistic solution.  Follow the example of Christ!  If what we do and how we live reflects the example of Christ—what better witness does the world have to follow?

 

Gracious Heavenly Father, our LORD God Almighty,

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. (c.f., Psalm 19:14, NLT)

In the Name of Jesus Christ, our LORD and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotion The Best Witness was originally written for Sunday, February 9, 2014; for Maranatha Devotional Guide, an Advent Christian Publication https://acgc.us   As the original author of this devotion, I reserve the right to update and share it on my current devotional blog Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Yield Not to Temptation

1 Corinthians 10:12-13  ¹²So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! ¹³No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

This morning I am reminded of a favorite hymn from the old Crowning Glory Hymnal (Zondervan, 1967). Coming from a musically inclined family, I cannot help but defer to Horatio R. Palmer for today’s devotional.  The words he penned are so appropriate:

Yield not to temptation, For yielding is sin Each victory will help you Some other to win; fight manfully onward, Dark passions subdue, Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.

Shun evil companions, Bad language disdain, God’s name hold in reverence, Nor take it in vain; Be thoughtful and earnest, Kindhearted and true, Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.

To him that o’ercometh God giveth a crown; Thro’ faith we will conquer Though often cast down; He who is our Saviour Our strength will renew, Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.

Ask the Saviour to help you, Comfort, strengthen, and keep you; He is willing to aid you, He will carry you through.

 

Gracious Heavenly Father, our LORD God Almighty,

Thank you for providing the answer to life’s distracting temptations.  Help us to focus upon you.

In the Name of Jesus Christ, our LORD and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotion Yield Not to Temptation was originally written for Saturday, February 8, 2014; for Maranatha Devotional Guide, an Advent Christian Publication https://acgc.us   As the original author of this devotion, I reserve the right to update and share it on my current devotional blog Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.