Parameters for Freedom

Psalm 119:41-48 ⁴¹May your unfailing love come to me, LORD, your salvation, according to your promise; ⁴²then I can answer anyone who taunts me, for I trust in your word. ⁴³Never take your word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws. ⁴⁴I will always obey your law, for ever and ever. ⁴⁵I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. ⁴⁶I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, ⁴⁷for I delight in your commands because I love them. ⁴⁸I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees.

During my many years as a teacher, one of my first lessons for each new group of students was that my students would have a lot of freedom in my classroom as long as they obeyed the rules.   I wanted my students to understand that the ultimate purpose of rules and guidelines was not to create a hardship, but to create a safe learning environment.  I always had very few “rules,” most of which focused on respect and responsibility for both the individual student and the classroom as a team.

When we look at our passage for today, we see a similar outline in God’s plan for us.  God’s plan is only restrictive in the negative sense for non-believers.  Yet for those who choose obedience to God’s will, His Word provides freedom, comfort, and hope.  God’s Word provides rules and guidelines to help us focus on respect for God’s holiness and our responsibilities as Christians.  When we seek to remain within the parameters of God’s word, we find ample freedom throughout our daily walk with Him.

Gracious Heavenly Father, our LORD God Almighty,

Thank you for your Word that shows us your expectations for God’s people. Thank you for the truth of your Word, which is never a hardship for those who love you. Thank you for the freedom, comfort, and hope your Word provides.

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

 

The devotion Parameters for Freedom was originally written for Sunday, February 20, 2011; 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.

 

When the earth and all its people quake...

Psalm 75:1-3  ¹We praise you, God, we praise you, for your Name is near; people tell of your wonderful deeds. ²You say, “I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge with equity. ³When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm.”

We are warned through the teaching of Christ that the end times will bring war, famines, earthquakes, and other events of “great distress,” (c.f., Matt. 24:7).  How ironic the writing of this devotional followed barely one year after an earthquake virtually devastated the island of Haiti.  Tens of thousands died in the event affecting those from the poorest homes to the presidential palace itself.  Although years have passed since then, we still remember this was most certainly a time of great distress, and even yet today mission groups are helping to rebuild homes and structures on the island.

In the face of such tragedy, praise be to God our Heavenly Father, who is our source of strength and stability.  He created the world and everything in it.  When the earth and all its people quake, HE will hold its pillars firm (vs. 3).  God will provide the structural support for our daily lives, too, if we will but call upon His name.  Then with joyful hearts we can join the psalmist in giving thanks to God!

Gracious Heavenly Father, our LORD God Almighty,

We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks for your Name is near!

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

 

The devotion When the earth and all its people quake... was originally written for Friday, January 14, 2011; 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.

Anticipation

Hebrews 13:12-21  ¹²And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. ¹³Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. ¹⁴For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. ¹⁵Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. ¹⁶And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. ¹⁷Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. ¹⁸Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. ¹⁹I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon. ²⁰Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, ²¹equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

As any summer draws to a close, many students already begin to anticipate the start of the next new school year.  I suppose their minds are full of questions: Who will my new teacher be? What will my classroom look like? For some students, the questions might be: Will I be able to find my room?  Will I remember my locker combination?  I still chuckle when I remember years ago, one of our sons went back to school to find his jacket. I was waiting out in the car for what seemed an inordinately long time; and when he finally came out to the car he explained that he went to his previous year’s classroom by mistake and couldn’t find his jacket. Then he remembered the right classroom. If I am honest, I did not find joy in waiting for my son that day.

Today’s passage reminds us of another kind of anticipation.  This anticipation brings joy to every Christian. Truly we are looking for that Blessed Hope – “the city that is to come” (v. 14).  So perhaps for us, the questions should be: Will I be ready? Have I done all that I can to make sure others are ready? Have I used my time wisely for the Lord?

Gracious Heavenly Father, our LORD God Almighty,

Thank you for that Blessed Hope.  May we work faithfully for your kingdom with eager anticipation.

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

 

The devotion Anticipation was originally written for Wednesday, August 4, 2010; 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.

 

A Good Word

Philemon vs. 19-25  ¹⁹I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. ²⁰I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. ²¹Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask. ²²And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers. ²³Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. ²⁴And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. ²⁵The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Isn’t it wonderful to anticipate the visit from friends or family?  As soon as we receive word of their soon-coming visit, we busy ourselves cooking and cleaning to make sure everything is “just right.”  Years ago when I used to visit my grandmother and great aunt in Dowling Park, there would always be a strawberry-rhubarb pie waiting for me.  I treasured those visits, and not just for the pie!

In today’s passage, Paul sends word to anticipate his visit.  This reminds me of another great word: ADVENT.  Indeed, the greatest anticipation for the Christian will be the second advent of Christ, when he returns to claim his faithful as his own.  It is for this event we daily prepare our lives through prayer, word, and deed.

Gracious Heavenly Father, our LORD God Almighty,

Forgive us where we fail you, and forgive us when we allow our anticipation of Christ’s second Advent to dwindle and fade into the background of our busy lives. Rekindle the eager anticipation in us for the soon-coming return of your Son. In preparation, may all that we think, say, and do be what honors you.

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

 

The devotion A Good Word was originally written for Sunday, May 23, 2010; 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.

 

A Good Man

Philemon vs. 8-18  ⁸Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, ⁹yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—¹⁰that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. ¹¹Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. ¹²I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. ¹³I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. ¹⁴But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced by would be voluntary. ¹⁵Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever—¹⁶no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the LORD. ¹⁷So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. ¹⁸If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.

Have you ever tried to remove the label from an object?  Isn’t it frustrating when remnants of paper are still adhered to the surface?  I have discovered a small dab of peanut butter can remove those sticky remnants of adhesive.  For the sinner, and remember, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God – Romans 3:23; it is the blood of Christ that removes the label of “sin” from our lives.  We each become a new person with a new purpose for life.

In today’s passage, we see the life of Onesimus changed from slavery to fellow saint.  Research tells us the name Onesimus actually means “useful.”  How interesting this good man was useful in name and actions.  As the blood of Christ cleanses you, and creates in you a new person, what new purposes will you find in which to be useful?

Gracious Heavenly Father, our LORD God Almighty,

Thank you for the gift of your Son, whose blood cleanses us from every trace of sin.

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

 

The devotion A Good Man was originally written for Saturday, May 22, 2010; 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.