Debbie Taylor Williams

If someone says, “You’re exactly like your father” are those fighting words or complimentary words? In other words, did you admire your father so it’s a compliment to be likened to him? Or were there things you didn’t admire and so don’t want to be likened to him?  We would all certainly like for it to be a compliment and in Hebrews 1:3 it is in regard to Jesus being the “spitting image” of His Daddy.  The writer to the Hebrews says this about Jesus and God the Father.  “He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature,” Look at Jesus and you’re looking at our Heavenly Father. Listen to Jesus and you’re hearing the voice of God. Observe Jesus with people and you are observing the Father. Isn’t it exciting that we have a glimpse of what it will be like to be in our Father’s presence? I can’t wait! What about you?

Christ Jesus, we look at and listen to You and know that You are the exact representation of Your Father. We are seeing and hearing Him. We love You both so much! 

The February 2021 winter freeze took this Texas girl by surprise. Yes, I’d seen the warnings of a winter storm. Okay, that meant cold weather and snow. Ice. I made a mental note of the warning and went on with my life.  Then it got cold. And colder. And more cold. I wasn’t prepared and by the time the snow, cold, iced over roads, power outage, no water, and firewood had run out, it was too late to do anything about it. The days for preparing had passed. I was living in the consequences of my lackadaisical unpreparedness. Often I thought of what I would do to be better prepared should we have another winter storm. I also often thought of how ultimately terrifying it is going to be for people who have sort of paid attention to the warning of a judgement after death, to the fire and more fire of hell, to the punishment for sin, and yet are going on with their lives and not doing anything to prepare for the salvation of their soul. It makes me cringe. It fills me with sorrow for them and regret that I have not done more to sound the warning. If I felt stuck in the cold of my house, how will they feel when they are stuck in the fire of their hell?  Sweet friends, Jesus tells us with “all authority” in Matthew 28:18-20 that we are to be sounding the warning that a day is coming when all people will meet Jesus and their soul will be sealed in heaven or hell. Jesus commands us with all authority to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” Are we warning others to prepare to meet Jesus? Are we telling them how to prepare while they still have time? 

Jesus, Son of God, You have all AUTHORITY in heaven and on earth. Show us how we can warn people of hell so they will hear, believe, and prepare to meet You.  

Verses to Share to Help Others Prepare. Learn how to share your faith HERE.

Is the news freaking you out?  I’m not a worrier and I’m not easily alarmed. But when I heard that the National Guard was sending 20,000 troops to Washington D.C. to defend the Capitol due to threats of violence, I felt a strange sense of fear rising in me. Fear for our nation. Fear that people might do something that would cause the loss of life. I immediately began praying. A sense of urgency swelled in me that each of us must do our part to encourage calmness in the midst or rising emotions. We must do our part to bathe relationships in prayer. We must take the high road that follows Christ’s example of praying for our enemies rather than drawing a sword. We must believe that God’s got this. So, no, I’m not going to live in fear. I’m going to take my cues from a great Biblical example – Daniel. We find his story in Daniel 2. King Nebuchadnezzar had a troubling dream and demanded that it be interpreted or he would kill all the wise men. Daniel’s name was on the list of those to be executed. However when Daniel learned of the situation, he didn’t go into hiding. Rather, he gathered his friends and prayed. Daniel 2:18 states they requested, “compassion from the God of heavens” concerning the interpretation of the King’s dream. That night, God revealed the interpretation to Daniel. In Daniel 2:20, he praises Him. “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him.” He continues in verse 23, “To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, For You have given me wisdom and power; Even now You have made known to me what we requested of You.”  Do you believe God is powerful and that He can give you wisdom and power to know what to do in these troubling days? He can.

Heavenly Father, thank You for making Yourself available to us. Thank You that Your eyes are on Washington D.C. Thank You that in the midst of evil days, You are holy and exalted and always there for us. We look to You for wisdom and power. Guide our thoughts and steps so we are instruments of peace. 

A person who is not a Christian once challenged me and asked why believers talk about God’s love but never His wrath. I thought about his question and realized that I’m guilty of that very thing. Think about all the wonderful ways we look at God’s love, gentleness, and favor. Today, however, the context in which God’s actions are described as WONDROUSLY MARVELOUS is a reference to His judgment on people who claim His name, but simply give lip service to Him. God uses the prophet Isaiah to call them out in  Isaiah 29:13-14. “Then the Lord said, ‘Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote, therefore, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, WONDROUSLY MARVELOUS.'”  He goes on to warn them of the consequences of their lip service and rote worship. We might want to relegate our Creator’s wrath to the Old Testament, but Revelation 16 speaks of God’s judgment being poured out in a future day. We may wonder, “Is mankind’s behavior and sincerity of worship a big deal to God?” The answer is, yes.

Happy New Year!

Do you wish you could twitch your nose or snap your fingers and presto, what you long for would appear this year? The fact is, those techniques may work in movies, but not real life. However, God does work wonders. Sometimes those wonders take time. Other times, moments. Regardless of the timing, our Heavenly Father is the One on whom we are to set our hearts if we’re in need of wonder-working power.  Moses is but one of many who needed a miracle and God stepped in. Listen to his words of praise in  Exodus 15:11. “Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders?” If we’re in need of wonder-working power, we can go to God, be still in His presence, ask Him for help, and listen to what He quietly impresses on our hearts. Have your Bible, pen, and journal with you so you can turn to a Bible verse He directs you to look up and so you can write down what He prompts you to do.  Imagine a year of God’s wonder working power in your life. It’s not a fairy tale. It’s real and it’s available for the person who seeks Christ and desires to glorify Him with their life. 

Dreary days. Gray skies. They can make us feel gloomy. The death of loved ones, separation, or estrangement from family or friends weighs heavily on our hearts. On what can we focus in those times? Malachi 4:2 tells us.  “…for you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.” What does that mean? Theologian Charles Spurgeon explains:  “Jesus, like the sun, is the center and soul of all things, the fullness of all good, the lamp that lights us, the fire that warms us, the magnet that guides and controls us; he is the source and fountain of all life, beauty, fruitfulness, and strength.”  Jesus is called the Sun of Righteousness because on the most dreary of days, when we are gloomy and despairing, we can ask Him to fill us with His Spirit and shine in our hearts and minds. Call on Him now to rise in your heart and mind in the full strength of His glory.

We praise You, SUN of RIGHTEOUSNESS, and look to You to enlighten us.

*http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/1020.htm