Biblical Encouragement
Ho-Hum or DIVINE?
Divine. We often use the word casually. “The cake is divine!” “It was a divine vacation.” However, 2 Peter 1:3-4 uses the word “divine” in relation to God’s power and nature saying, “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”
Peter continues, “For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”
These are incredible truths for us to grasp. Christ’s divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness. Christ has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises so that by them we may become partakers of the divine nature.
In other words, God’s intention is for us to live by His divine nature; not live a ho-hum or defeated life. Believers have God’s divine power through the Holy Spirit and God’s divine promises in the Bible. Are we living by them?
Lord Jesus, DIVINE Holy One, thank You for Your divine power through the Holy Spirit and for Your divine precious and magnificent promises. I worship and adore You.
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Feast Your Eyes On This Crown
Throughout time, people have sat on thrones and worn diadems. Some leaders have worn their crowns well and brought honor to their people. Others have brought shame. The latter was the case with the chief tribe of the Northern Kingdom of Israel at the time of Isaiah, the prophet.
In Isaiah 28:5, he contrasted the leaders who wore crowns of shame with the Lord Jehovah, saying, “In that day the LORD of hosts will become a beautiful crown and a glorious diadem to the remnant of His people.”
Herbert Lockyer expounds on the Lord being a crown of beauty. “What a charming combination Isaiah gives us of Jehovah renowned for His luster and loveliness. A “crown of glory” is fitting for Him who is the “King of Glory,” and whose righteousness is “radiant with excess of glory” (2 Corinthians 3:9-11). In the crown, there sparkles His excellence, worth, sovereignty and glory. Truly, He is incomparable! In Jesus’ intercessory prayer, Jesus prayed that His God-given glory might adorn our lives (John 17:22).” 1
In our society where leaders are not always honorable, how wonderful that our king, the Lord God, is a crown of beauty.
Lord Jesus, crown of glory, DIADEM OF BEAUTY, I worship You. Fill me with Your glorious Spirit so that I shine forth Your light to others.
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1 Copyright Herbert Lockyer, “All the Divine Names and Titles in the Bible,” page 80, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1975.
Broken Promises? Not This Time
Has anyone ever broken a promise to you? More than likely, you answered “yes.” Promises are broken every day, but there is One, God, whose promises you can count on today and for eternity.
Beginning in Genesis, God promised to never destroy the earth again with a flood. God kept His Noahic Covenant, another word for promise.
God promised Abraham that He would make a great nation out of his descendants. The nation of Israel is the fulfillment of God’s covenant.
God made a covenant with King David that he would have a descendant on the throne forever. That covenant/promise is fulfilled in Jesus.
God promised a new covenant fulfilled by Jesus. “And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins’” (Matthew 26:27-28).
Yes, Jesus made a covenant, a promise, sealed with His blood that anyone who repents of sin and believes in Him for the forgiveness of their sins will be saved and given the Holy Spirit.
Other people may have broken their promises to you, but the Lord, the Covenant Maker, can be trusted today and for eternity.
Lord Jesus, COVENANT MAKER, thank You for the peace and eternal life You give me through Your blood sacrifice. I worship and praise You.
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One More Reason to Praise God If You’re a Believer
Would you rather God contend—plead a cause—for you or would you rather Him contend against you? If you answered that you would rather God contend “for you,” then you have reason to jump up and down for joy. Why?
Isaiah 51:22 states, “Thus says your Lord, the LORD, even your God who contends for His people, ‘Behold, I have taken out of your hand the cup of reeling, the chalice of My anger; You will never drink it again.’”
Did you catch Isaiah’s words? “Your God who contends for His people.” Yes, God contends for, not against us.
A “hallelujah” with hands raised in praise is appropriate because as God has dealt with Israel, so He deals with those who place their faith in Christ.
Lord, I thank You that You are a God who CONTENDS FOR—not against—Your people. I praise You with hands raised high.
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Needing A Remodel?
Have you ever looked at yourself and thought, “I need a makeover”? Have you wondered how you could build a better life? If so, the answer is found in Hebrews 3:4 which tells us God is “the builder of all things.”
Yes, Jesus was more than a small-town carpenter. He built the heavens and earth. Jesus built a global church from a small number of men and women. If He can build the heavens and all creation and if He can recreate us at our spiritual birth, He can remodel us and in fact, wants to.
If we have attempted to improve ourself but failed, perhaps it’s because we have been attempting a DIY (Do It Yourself) makeover and we need a professional.
Ask the Lord, the builder of all things, to reconstruct your thoughts, to remodel your desires, and to enlarge the sunroom of your heart so it is a place where He and you meet. Ask Jesus to remodel you to think and look like Him.
Jesus, BUILDER OF ALL THINGS, You are my Savior Carpenter. You took nails that were meant for me on Your holy body. Reconstruct my mind and heart so I am a holy place in whom You dwell; where others can draw near and see You.
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