Are you a member of God’s family?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
(John 3:3 (NIV))

I was recently given a very interesting glimpse of God’s love for us through the birth of my granddaughter! Let me explain, and for those of you who have recently experienced the birth of a child, you probably already understand.

Is there anything that makes the human heart happier than the birth of a child? It brings joy to the mother and father and all who are related to them. People gather all around to celebrate the birth of the precious new life! They bestow gifts on the parents and on the child. They make a commitment to always be there for the child as they grow and mature. They instantly love with more love than they could possibly imagine.

Think about that in terms of being a child of God’s.

When we are born again, we are born of the Spirit. We accept the grace and mercy freely given to become a son or a daughter of God. In true fashion, we literally are born again. We are birthed into the family of God! Don’t you think that the Lord is filled with joy when someone truly decides to call Him Father? The human joy that we experience when we hold a newborn member of our family is overwhelming. How much greater is the joy that God and all of heaven feel when we are born into God’s family?

There is no greater joy in this world than the birth of a child. There is no greater joy that God can experience than the rebirth of one of His beloved children.

Have you given God great joy? Are you a member of God’s family?

Copyright 1998 – 2019 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Have you made heaven rejoice?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
(Luke 15:7 (NIV))

God does not wish for any to perish. He rejoices when one who is lost is found!

If you have something of value, and you know where it is, you have no reason to rejoice. If that prized possession is lost, you earnestly and fervently seek to find it so that you can return it to its rightful place. You become extremely happy when it is found. You rejoice over the fact that the thing of great worth has been restored!

God is the same when it comes to sinners who repent and turn to Him!

To God, each and every one of us is that prized possession. Each of us are a thing of great worth to Him for He created each of us in His image, yet each of us are unique. In all of creation and in all of history, there is no one like you! Each of us are special in God’s eyes. Each of us is that thing of great worth to God. Because we are of great importance to God, then we are of great importance to all of heaven.

Sadly, we are all lost!

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
(Romans 3:23 (NIV))

Because of our sin, we are lost to God. Even through all of this, He had a plan to redeem us, to restore us to Himself. When we accept His plan, when we accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, we are no longer lost. We have repented and have been found. This makes all of heaven rejoice!

Have you made heaven rejoice?

Copyright 1998 – 2018 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Is Jesus weeping or is all of heaven rejoicing?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

Jesus wept.
(John 11:35 (NIV))

Have you given any thought as to why Jesus wept at the death of Lazarus!

Jesus loved Lazarus and because he had died before Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected, Lazarus still fell under the Law. His sins would convict him and the consequences would be eternal separation from God. Jesus wept for him because He had compassion for his friend, but He also had a very strong love for His friend. This love would not let His friend miss out on the gift of salvation when it would be available only a short time away. I do not profess to know this for certain, but I know the heart of Jesus. It is the same heart that led Him in obedience to the cross for you and I. It is the same heart that led him to heal the blind man. It is the same heart that led Him to heal the centurion’s daughter. It is the same heart that leads Him to search out the lost. He did not want to have Lazarus be lost when His salvation would be made available in a short time.

Jesus performed many miracles in His time on this earth. He is still performing them today. Perhaps one of the greatest miracles is His peace in hard times.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Hebrews 4:7 (NIV))

It is true that Jesus wept. It is true that He has compassion for His creation. He also rejoices when a soul finds salvation. I would offer up that Jesus weeps when a soul is lost to eternal separation from God. Nothing could break His heart more. In the same context, all of heaven rejoices when a lost soul is saved.

Take a look at your life and your salvation. Is Jesus weeping or is all of heaven rejoicing?

Copyright 1998 – 2013 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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