“Our Daily Bread”
http://odb.org/2012/09/12/good-plenty/
The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie
http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht
2 Corinthians 5:6-7… So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. (NKJV)
How many of us have doubts like the apostle Thomas, who would not believe his fellow disciples had seen the risen Lord, until he touched the scars left from the nails that held Jesus to the cross (John 20:24-29)… Just because we cannot see God, does not mean He does not exist…
Faith was described by the writer of the Book of Hebrews this way, in…Hebrews 11:1… Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (NKJV)
The entire chapter 11 of the Book of Hebrews is devoted to faith… Perhaps the most important piece of scripture concerning faith in the N.T. is found in…Hebrews 11:6… But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (NKJV)
I believe the only way we can please God is by having saving faith in Him, which is a pure gift of grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ…Ephesians 2:8-9… For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. (NKJV)
The apostle Paul continues from the opening scripture with this, in…2 Corinthians 5:8… We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. (NKJV)
You hear this piece of scripture often read at funerals… Christians should absolutely know for sure where they are headed when they die…1 John 5:13… These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. (NKJV)
And how does one know they will have eternal life in heaven as a child of God ?? …Because the Holy Spirit lets them know…Romans 8:14 & 16… For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (NKJV)
The apostle Paul knew he would be with the Lord when he died…Philippians 1:21 & 23- 24… For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which isfar better.24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. (NKJV)
Paul lived the last half of his life for Christ, as he preached the gospel of Christ to those in need for some 30 years… You can see from this scripture…that Paul thought dying would be far better than living… And Paul loved sharing God’s Word… We as Christians, who positively know like Paul, that we are going to be face to face with Christ when we die…should not fear death… And if our loved ones that have passed away were Christians…there should have been few tears; because we know they went be with the Lord… This peace to overcome even the death of a loved one…is a supernatural peace given by God to the Christian who is filled with (totally controlled by) the Holy Spirit…Philippians 4:6-7…
Revelation 21:4… “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (NKJV)
The apostle Paul was chosen by Christ from heaven (Acts 9:1-19), to preach the gospel of Christ primarily to the Gentiles…Acts 9:15… And it is the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ that must be understood and obeyed today, in order to be graced with the free gift of salvation by God…
Heavenly Father, I pray Lord that You would draw all that are not believers to Yourself…and that You would change their heart of stone to a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19)… I pray for Your grace to abound for all of us…in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…
written by bruce r mills
P.S. The gospel of Christ is presented in the link below, to plant the seed toward salvation for those who want to become part of God’s family; to be sure they are righteous in God’s eyes, and filled with the awesome power of the Holy Spirit…
God's group 