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DAILY DEVOTIONALS

Read the loving and inspiration words of the bible as chosen by Joni Eareckson Tada in this amazing collection of devotionals sent to you daily via email.


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Today's Devotional

“. . . a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.” — Titus 1:2

It’s been said that a child doesn’t know the difference between a broken promise and a lie. To the parent, a promise is something we strive to fulfill but, “Hey, one never knows what tomorrow might bring.” But to the child, a promise is a statement of fact about future events. Period.

Before there was time, God made a promise that the people whom he chose, by their faith, would live forever. But then, no sooner did time begin than the first rebellion broke out in the Garden of Eden. It was the first in a long line of reasons for God to back out of his promise. Who could blame Him for backing out? I would renege, especially since the promise was made without a witness. And I would definitely suspend the promise if the provisions of the relationship were frequently and maliciously broken, as indeed they were.

But our verse for today says that God does not lie and that his inability to lie is related to the fact that he made a promise. The Greek uses the adjective form saying the “not-lying God.” To God, a broken promise and a lie are one and the same, and he can do neither. He does not have the propensity to alter his character nor his intention toward us. What he started must be completed. He will not, and can not, alter what was a part of his being even before we ever came into existence.

There is a great sense of security in knowing God’s omnipotence. His inability to lie, likewise, gives security. Doubts about God changing his mind vanish when we realize that, unlike us, God can not break a promise or lie. And in his mind, truth and promises are the same. Think for a moment what you believe about promises. What promises have you made that you can follow through on today?

* * * * *

Father, I take great comfort in knowing that my sins have no bearing on your decision to grant me eternal life. Your inability to do otherwise binds my heart to yours. I love you.

 


From More Precious Than Silver, April 6, by Joni Eareckson Tada, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1998.

Tomorrow's Devotional

“For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.” — Hebrews 7:28

Jesus is the perfect Priest who can completely empathize with our weaknesses. His response to our plight — especially our grief and pain — is utterly perfect. This is good news for the hurting widow, the rejected wife, the abandoned young person, and the stroke survivor dealing with loss of his ability to think clearly and walk steadily. It’s good news because sometimes we think that God is far removed from our heartache. Yet Jesus — God in the flesh — is never, ever far removed from our grief.

Consider the grief shown by Jesus in the gospels. See him with Mary, the sister of Lazarus, at the tomb of her brother. John 11:35 poignantly observes that “Jesus wept.” Did only his human nature weep, and not his divine? No, for Jesus explained, “...the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing...” (John 5:19). The grief Jesus showed on earth reflects not only the Father’s heart, but also the Holy Spirit’s — for we learn in Isaiah 63:10 of the Spirit’s reaction to a straying Israel: “They rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit...” The entire Trinity is able to grieve.

“As with his contentment, joy, and anger,” says Steve Estes, “God’s grief is a worthy emotion — without weakness, without impurity, without anything uncomely. It never paralyzes him, and it did not lead him sentimentally to ignore justice...” In other words, when God grieves, he does it perfectly. He does it without reservations or insecurities. He always knows the right thing to feel, do, and say. Others may stumble to offer the right response, but not God. When it is right to grieve, when grieving is the perfect response — this is what God does, because he is perfect.

If you know someone who is grieving, gently point him to Christ. The Lord grieves better, more wisely and more wonderfully, than anyone can imagine.

* * * * *

Lord, thank you for always having the perfect response to whatever it is I am going through, whether grief, joy, pain or contentment.

 


From More Precious Than Silver, April 6, by Joni Eareckson Tada, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1998.


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