Serving God -John 12:25-26

I haven't been as good posting lately, (I'm blaming that for a lot of school and being on vacation), but I thought I'd get something in tonight.

"He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor."

A Heart Set on Pilgrimage -Psalms 84:3-7

...and I caught up missing yesterday! In David's poetry, we see the promise given to those who seek and rely on God.

"Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young - even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You. Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a spring; they rain also covers is with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion."

To Live With Him -1 Thessalonians 5:1-2,6-11

This passage is a great reminder/encouragement. Since the day of the Lord is coming, we should continue to seek Him. It ends with the promise that Jesus died for us so we could live with Him.

"But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night....Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing."

Hope of the Afterlife -1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

"But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words."

The Warfare -2 Corinthians 10:3-6

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled."

The promise I wanted to point out here is that our weapons as a Christian are "mighty in God"...it's not our strength at work here.

A House Not Made With Hands -2 Corinthians 5:1,5

"For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

How do we know this promise is true? God has given us His Spirit as a guarantee:

"Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee."

If only we lived with this heavenly perspective all of the time.

Transformed -2 Corinthians 3:17-18

"Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."

What a promise! We are being changed into His Image...

Gathered Out of the Lands -Psalms 107:2-3

This is my last post for Psalms 107...it truly is an amazing chapter, full of promises.

In other words, read the whole chapter! You won't regret it.

"Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, and gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south."

While this passage talks about a particular point in time, I think that verse really is, in a sense, a promise towards the future, where those that are saved will be united with Christ.

However, I also think this has application here and now, as we see an example of God's mercy. We can relate this to our lives, understanding that through salvation God has redeemed us, and gathered us out of darkness.

To God Belongs Mercy -Psalms 62:11-12

"God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God. Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy; For you render to each one according to his work."

The Gift of Eternal Life -Romans 6:20-23

"For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Refuge -Psalms 14:6

"You shame the counsel of the poor, But the LORD is his refuge."

Trust in the LORD -Psalms 21:1-7

This is a longer passage, but I thought it was important to share the last verse I picked out, as it gives perspective to all the other verses. The reason the king receives all of these promises is because He trusts in God.

Reading these promises is a great encouragement for us to do the same!

"The king shall have joy in Your strength, O LORD; And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! You have given him his hearts' desire, And have not withheld the request of his lips. For You meet him with the blessings of goodness; You set a crown of pure gold upon his head. He asked life from You, and You gave it to him - Length of days forever and ever. His glory is great in Your salvation; Honor and majesty You have placed upon him. For You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence. For the king trusts in the LORD, And through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved."

I also wanted to point out that I do not believe that these promises will necessarily be experienced in their entirety here on earth. Some of these promises find their fulfillment once we reach heaven.

And that just gives us something to look forward to.

Awake In Your Likeness -Psalms 17:14-15

These verses are encouraging, simply because it is a clear reminder that ultimate fulfillment is found in God.

It's the promise of things yet to come.

I have to add here that verse 15 always excites me, as I read "...I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness." Wow. What a hope!

"With Your hand from men, O LORD, From men of the world who have their portion in this life, And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. They are satisfied with children, And leave the rest of their possession for their babes. As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness."

Coals of Fire -Proverbs 25:21-22

"If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the LORD will reward you."

Temporary v.s. Eternal -2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

Choosing Our Inheritance For Us -Psalms 47:1-4

"Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! For the LORD Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. He will subdue the peoples under us, And the nations under our feet. He will choose our inheritance for us, The excellence of Jacob whom He loves."

Knowing Just Like We Are Known -1 Corinthians 13:12

"For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."

Lasting Joy -Psalms 30:8-12

"I cried out to You, O LORD; And to the LORD I made supplication: "What profit is there in my blood, When I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth? Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me; LORD, be my helper!" You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever."

You Hold Me -Psalms 73:22-24

"I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory."

God is Good -Psalms 73:1

"Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart."