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One way to view God’s Word is as a love letter to you from your Father. I came across a compilation of Scripture passages (some of which are paraphrased) from years ago entitled “A Letter from Your Dad.”  I don’t know the who put this together, but I thought it was well done and worth sharing.

My Child,

Before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I knew you. When you were woven together in the depths of the earth, My eyes saw your unformed body. I created your inmost being; I knit you together in your mother’s womb. You are fearfully and wonderfully made, and you are created in My image.

I did this so that you would reach out for Me and find Me, for you are not far from Me.  When you seek Me with all your heart, you will find Me!

In me you live and move and have your being. You are My child! All the days ordained for you were written in My book. I know the number of hairs on your head!

You have relied on Me since your birth and you can rely on Me forever. Do not fear, I am with you. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

If earthly fathers know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more will I, your heavenly Father, give good gifts to My children? I lavish my love on you! Every good and perfect gift comes from above, coming down from Your Father of Lights. I do not change like the shifting shadows. I have no turning. I am the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

I long to give you the desires of your heart. I know the plans I have for you! Plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future. I can do immeasurably more for you than you can even ask or imagine.

I carry you like a lamb close to my heart. I am closest to the brokenhearted and those who are crushed in spirit.

Nothing can separate you from My love, the love I have given to you in my Son, Jesus. Neither life, nor death, nor angels, nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation can separate us!

Come home to me. Come home! For I rejoice more over one sinner who comes home than over ninety-nine righteous people! Come home and I shall throw a big party!

I will live with you. I will be your God and you will be my child. I will wipe every tear from your eye. There will be no more mourning or crying or pain.

I love you with an everlasting love,

Your Dad

1 John 4:7–11 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

There is a profound truth in this passage that we all need to get a hold of: He loved us first!  And wrapped up in that is the understanding that love in its purest form is His love for us, not our love for Him!

John 15:9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me.” 

You may never have picked up on this before, but think about the sequence here. First the Father loved Jesus; then Jesus loved us; then we are commanded to love one another.

1 John 4:7 …for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” 

If everyone who loves has been born of God, then we were transformed by His Love – which came first – in order to even know who He is!  His love for us is what allows us to know Him and be born again!

1 John 4:11      “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. “

Since God so loved us…He loved us first! That is empowers us to love each other. Why is this important? Why is it significant? What difference does it make who loved whom first? Understanding this gives us a clear understanding of who we are as Christians. It would be impossible for us to keep the command “love one another” unless we first understood that we are God’s adopted children, dearly loved by Him from before the day we were born, and constantly being molded into His image.  If we did not believe that, we would never find the encouragement, the strength, or the will to attempt to love our own friends and families, much less our enemies!

1 John 4:10: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

God’s love is so profound that He would pay the tab for our sins. Jesus came to be the sacrifice for our sins. He came so that we could have life now and life forever with Him. His love is immeasurable, beyond our comprehension, so vast that it covers everything, and it is everlasting!  He is our loving Father.

1 John 4:11      “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. “

About 30 years ago I found an old cassette tape in my dad’s things. The source was not identified, but it was someone who received a phone call from. That was the inspiration for a sermon I delivered years ago, which I have edited and updated for today’s devotion. It is a bit longer than most, but I hope you enjoy it.

Hello? Yes, this is Mike. Who is calling? Heaven? Is that you, Gary? No? It really is heaven? Why, yes, I’m a Christian? Operator, this ain’t a collect call, is it?

Hello? Yes sir! Yes sir! I’m thrilled to death you called, I truly am. Well, yes sir, it’s good to hear from You. You haven’t heard from me for awhile? You know, its funny, but just last night I was going to pray. Yes I was. My wife and I were laying in bed, listening to the television, watching Monday Night Football, and I told her that as soon as the game is over, I’m gonna switch off the set, say my prayers and go to sleep. But you know, we set the timer on the TV, and I got so tired that I was asleep before that game ended. It’s not that I didn’t want to pray.  I was so tired I just went plum off to sleep, Lord. But I tell you what I’m gonna do – I’m gonna do better. I’m gonna start tonight. I’ll say my prayers tonight whether I need to or not!

Sir? Yes sir, I go to church! I sure do! Every Sunday, well, almost every Sunday. I’m a faithful church member. Yes sir. Did I go last Sunday? Yes sir, I sure did! What did the preacher preach about? Well … he preached about … uh … it was on … he referred to Matthe… uh … Isai… uh, no, that was a couple of months ago … let me see … Sir? Did I go the week before? Well, you know, I can’t make it every week, Lord. I’d like to, but I can’t go every week. After all, I work hard all week, and I need a little time for myself on the weekend. And that partcular Sunday was so pretty that I went … what’s that?  Oh! You know where I went. Yes sir. I caught two stripers and four crappie.

What’s that? Yes sir! I’m a good steward. Now, by that, you mean tithing, giving to the church? Yes sir, I’m a real good steward. Yes sir, I give to the church. Every Sunday! What? Well, yes sir, every Sunday that I go. Am I growing with the church? Yes sir, I sure am. Just last Sunday I gave $5 more that I did the time before that! Sir? Well, yes sir, that’s right, there wasn’t change for a twenty in the collection plate when it came by me last Sunday. How’s that? What do you mean I’m not a faithful steward? Lord, I gave over $500 last year! And after all, I … sir? You mean do I understand what stewardship means? I … it means that everything I have belongs to You, and you want me to give the first 10% of everything back to you. Well, Lord, I tell you, right now you kinda got me in a bind. It’s gonna be kinda hard to give any more right now…yes sir, 10%. But I told you, I gave over $1000 last year! How much did my wife and I make last year? Was it over $100,000? Yes sir, it sure was. But I guess you already know that, don’t you? What percent is that? Less than 1%. Boy, you are good at math!

Let me tell you, Lord, I understand what you’re asking for, but let me explain. You see, if I don’t pay my mortgage, they’ll take my house. If I don’t pay my utilities, they shut off the water and the power. I’ve got to keep making payments on my boat, or they’re gonna come take it away. And then I’ve got a few medical bills I need to pay, as if those doctors need anymore money!  Now once I get all those things paid for, and then put my kids through college, I figured I’d start tithing then. Yes sir! If I don’t pay for those things, we’d have to do without! What? Well, if I don’t pay my tithe, nothing happens, right? Pardon? Where did I get all this stuff from? Who gave it to me? Nobody gave it to me, Lord. I worked hard for all I’ve got! What’s that… oh, yes, if you want to get technical, I guess it does all come from you … 10%? Well, Lord, if I don’t make my boat payment, they’re gonna come and get it, and then I won’t have it!  … If I didn’t have a boat payment, maybe it would be easier for me to tithe? Yes sir, I guess it would. You think maybe I have my priorities mixed up? Well, yes sir, maybe I do.

What’s that? Am I involved in my church? You bet I am. Yes sir. I’m very involved in my church. Every time somebody comes by here to tell me there is something going on at that church that shouldn’t be, I’m the first one there to jump all over that preacher and tell him what I think! Yes sir! Sir? Oh, that ain’t the way to do it, huh? Well that’s the way most of ‘em do it! Oh, this is a person to person call, just to me, huh?

Well, yes sir, I help out in the church when they ask me. Well, no, not every time they ask me. When was the last time I helped out at the church? Uh…well … let me see … oh yeah, I remember now. I stopped by at the church to see if I could borrow the preacher’s chain saw, and he had to go get it and I sat and answered the phone while he went and got it for me. That don’t count, huh? Yes sir.

Oh, yes sir, I read my Bible. Yes sir, —I sure do. I love my Bible. When was the last time? Well, sir, I believe it was, well, … well, you know, Lord, every time I go to church, the preacher reads it, and he reads to us right from the Bible, and I mean, after all, ain’t that the same thing? He’s reading it to me. Yes sir, I’m supposed to read it, too. Yes sir.

Well, no, Lord, I don’t go to Sunday School. I told you earlier, the hours I work, I like to sleep in a bit on Sunday … what’s that … well, yes, I do get up early if I’m going fishing … I suppose I could wake up early enough to go to Sunday School if I wanted to. Yes sir. But I make my kids go. Yes sir, they go. I see to that. Uh, one of the people from the church picks em up and brings em home again. Yes sir, I’m a good influence on my kids. Never in this home do we do or say anything that wouldn’t be a good influence on our children. What’s that? What did I say when I got my thumb caught in the screen door? You heard that, did you? Well sir, its just like I tell my kids, “You don’t do as I do, you do as I say!”  Yes Sir! That ain’t the way?

Do I give you the praise? Yes sir, I sure do. Just the other day, when I was 30 minutes late for work and slipped in without the boss seeing me, I said, “Thank God, I made it again!” Yes sir, I always give you the praise. What’s that? That’s not what you had in mind? That’s not keeping your commandments? Well, Lord, ain’t the commandments in the Old Testament? Aren’t we living in the New Testament? Read my Bible and find out? Well, I kinda figured that while I was talking to you, you might kinda bring my up to date on things. What’s that? By following your commandments I show you my gratitude? Well, yes, that does make sense.

What? Oh, no, Lord, we don’t gossip. No sir, we don’t do that. We don’t say anything about anyone unless we’re absolutely sure it is true. Yes sir! And then we only tell our closest friends our neighbor’s faults, and we tell them not to tell anyone else, even if our neighbor is no good. We tell them that it is just between us and should go no further. Oh, you know about that.

How’s that, Lord? I need to go to church more? I need to pray more? I need to be a better steward?  I need to live my faith? Yes sir. I believe I understand. Even if I’m giving my 10%, I’m not doing anything special, I’m not giving you anything that doesn’t already belong to you. I’m just paying a debt of gratitude. What’s that? Did I ever stop and figure out at 10% how far behind I’d be with you? No sir, I don’t believe I’d like to know that. What’s that? You won’t hold that against me? Oh, yes, I know, you promised that Jesus took care of all that.

How’s that,? That’s the main reason you called? You want to make sure I understand how much you love me? Well thank you, Lord! I love you, too. What do I think your love is? How would I describe your love? Is that a trick question, Lord? Oh, it’s not a trick question, and its not hard. The answer is easy? I guess the answer would be Jesus. Yes sir. I remember what I learned about Him. You loved me enough to send Him down here to take care of all the sin I’ve done. Yes sir, I believe that. And I believe that His death really did pay for my sins. Yes sir, I believe He rose again from the dead.

You know what, Lord? I think I know where you’re going with all this. When I remember all that you’ve done for me … well, I’m gonna do better. I will do better. Yes sir. I guess I haven’t considered all the blessings you’ve sent my way. Yes sir, I know that it’s a blessing to be able to worship you in this country without violating man-made laws. Yes sir, I realize that you must love me to have given your Son to die on a cross for me. I want to thank You for that, Lord, and I’ll tell you what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna start doing better. I’m gonna rededicate my life right now. I’m gonna quit talking about my neighbors. I’m gonna start tithing my 10%. I’m gonna go to church on Sunday. I’m gonna go to Bible Class, and I’m gonna take an active part. I won’t have to take anybody’s word about what’s going on in the church, because I’m gonna be there myself! Yes sir! And I’m gonna pray more, talk to you more. And it would be nice to hear from You more, Lord! What? Oh, that’s why You had those guys write down Your Word, so I could hear you talking to me all the time?  I understand.

Uh, Lord, if I’m gonna do better, I’ll need your help. You will? Thank you, Lord. Yes sir. And it’s been good talking to you, too. I’m glad you called. OK. Bye now.

What’s that dear? Who was on the phone? You’d never believe me if I told you. No, it wasn’t a wrong number. Boy, did He have my number!

In 360 AD Julian became Caesar. He was the nephew of Constantine the Great who “Christianized” the Roman world. However, Julian wanted to re-establish pagan worship in the Empire and became known as “Julian the Apostate.” He openly persecuted Christians and took away all the rights they had gained under Constantine.

He accused the Christians of trying to obtain followers by bribing the sick. He wrote, “These impious Galileans give themselves to this kind of humanity (the sick) as men allure children with candy, so they … bring converts to their impiety. Now we can see what it is that makes these Christians such powerful enemies of our gods. It is the brotherly love which they manifest toward strangers and towards the sick and the poor.” Julian did not care for the Christians at all, faulting them for being kind and loving.

However, he had been educated in Athens alongside a dedicated Christian by the name of Agaton. Agaton was spared persecution, even being given a position in Julian’s court. Of course, he was constantly teased by Julian for his beliefs. One day, in front of a large group of wealthy Romans, Julian asked, “Agaton, how is your carpenter of Nazareth? Is he finding work these days?” Agaton smiled and answered, “He is perhaps taking time away from building mansions for the faithful to build a coffin for your Empire.” Less than two years later, Julian lay dying with a Persian arrow in his chest. He had led his troops in an attempt to take over the ancient Persian Empire. He grabbed a handful of dust, red with his own blood, threw it up and cried, “You have conquered, Galiliean.” The Roman Empire has long since crumbled into the dust of history. But the Empire of the Carpenter lives on. And He will reign forever and ever.

In the final analysis, Jesus will emerge as the victor. Those who are on His side, those who have placed their confidence in Him will share in His victory. Anyone can be a part of that. All it takes is faith. Believe that His death paid for your sins, put your confidence in Him and not yourself, and you have the forgiveness He earned for you.

God wants the best for you – all of you. His love is powerful, it conquered sins and death so that you could be reconciled to Him. And once you have that, He will not let you go.

Romans 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Lately I’ve been watching a show about Texas Game Wardens entitled “Lone Star Law.” They are part of the state police, and most episodes show them issuing tickets for all kinds of offenses, everything from hunting and fishing violations to possession of drug paraphernalia. They are often fairly lenient, issuing only one citation and lots of warnings. A phrase they often use when handing the citation to the person is “It’s not the end of the world.”

How often have you said that to someone to try and put things in their proper perspective?

• Bad hair day? It’s not the end of the world.
• Miss your bus to school or your ride to work? It’s not the end of the world.
• Break up with your girlfriend/boyfriend? It’s not the end of the world.
• Lose your job? It’s not the end of the world.
• Your house burns down and you lose everything you own? Even that is not the end of the world.

However, Jesus tells us that the end is coming and no one knows when that will be. So we should be like watchmen, alert, on guard, always ready for it.

Mark 13:32-37 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back–whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: `Watch!’ “

We should be on guard. We should be alert and prepared. But the preparation does not come through storing up treasures on earth or seeking immortality through science and technology. The preparation you need comes from knowing who Jesus is. He is the one who came to us as the son of a human mother to redeem us who were under the guilty verdict of the Law. He is the one who has made you sons and daughters of God. Suffering and dying on the cross at Golgotha, Jesus Christ has freed you from the verdict of death. He ended the power of death over you. Even when the end of the world comes for you, you know that it is not the end. He has opened the gates to eternal life to all who by the Spirit’s power bend the knee to Him as Lord.  So you can stand before your judge with confidence, knowing the price for sin has been paid and you have forgiveness.

Christians have the certainty of a place prepared for them in heaven. The provisions have been readied. Our Lord promised in John 14 [2-3] In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. And just a few verses later He tells us what it takes to get in: I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).

 When we say, “It’s not the end of the world” we usually do so to mean, “things could be worse.” That implies that the end of the world is bad. People see the end as something terrible. While that is true for those who DO NOT have faith in Jesus as their Savior, the end of the world is certainly not a bad thing for those who have faith in Jesus.

Our Lord tells us to Watch. The End is coming, whether it be your death or the end of time when He returns to announce His judgment on all men. Peter talks about the end of the world in that way in his second letter.

2 Peter 3:10-13 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

 It’s not the end of the world…Yet! As God graciously gives us more time here on earth, we have more opportunities to live more like Him. We have more time to forgive those who have hurt us, to try to correct the wrongs we have done, to love as we have been loved. We put things in proper perspective by saying “it’s not the end of the world.” And as those who know that Jesus has reconciled us to the Father, we can say  “It’s not the end of the world…Yet!” Because it is something we should look forward to … in faith.

Come Lord Jesus, Come. Amen.

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. James 4:8

Does God seem far away from you right now? If so, why do you think that is true? Did God walk away from you, or did you distance yourself from Him?

Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

God said He would not leave you, so if He seems far away from you, you are the one who has created the gap.

Often times people who have felt distant from God told me “But I pray to Him every day!” That is good and should be done. But consider this: How do you feel when someone always says things to you but never listens to what you say. Does that make for a good relationship? Prayer is a one-sided conversation. You need to listen to what God says to you as well. And the place He speaks to you is His Word.

If you want to get closer to God, speak to Him and listen to Him. Pray and be in His Word. You will be built up in the knowledge of the full and free forgiveness you have for Jesus sake. And you will be closer to your Lord and Savior.

As Moses led the people of Israel up to the Promised Land, before they entered it without him, he gave them his final message that God told him to share with His Chosen Nation. The prophet recounts their history, how God brought them out of their slavery in Egypt, gave them His Law, punished them for their disobedience for 40 years, but now has brought them to the time they would take possession of that land flowing with milk and honey. There were a few final instructions, blessings that would follow if they obeyed God and curses that would come if they did not. This is the book of Deuteronomy, from which the passage I share with you today is taken.

Deuteronomy 4:32–40 ³² Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created man on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of? ³³ Has any other people heard the voice of God speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived? ³⁴ Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by miraculous signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? ³⁵ You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other. ³⁶ From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from out of the fire. ³⁷ Because he loved your forefathers and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength, ³⁸ to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance, as it is today. ³⁹ Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. ⁴⁰ Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the Lord your God gives you for all time.

Moses was telling the people of God, the Jewish nation, not to forget what God had done. Talk about it with each other. Share the message with future generations. No one else has this Good News of deliverance, a God who steps in to deliver His people by His might and power. You have heard about it and seen His goodness in your lives. Don’t forget who God is and what He has done for you. Show your gratitude for all He has done by being His obedient children, and God will bless you.

That was the message God had for His people in the Old Testament. It should sound very familiar to the people of the New Testament as well.

Do not forget what God has done. Share it with one another, with your children and grandchildren, your friends and neighbors. No other religion or faith has the Good News of deliverance from sin and death and the devil that God has accomplished by sending His one and only Son into the world to become one of us, live with us, die for the sins of all people, and rise victorious to give us the certainty of eternal life with Him. He did that by His might and power. He did it all, and we receive it as a gift. You have heard about it and you have seen God’s goodness and blessing in your lives. Don’t forget who God is and what He has done for you through Jesus Christ. Show your gratitude to God for the salvation He accomplished and gives to you by striving to live according to His commandments, knowing you already have forgiveness and life. God will continue to shower down His blessings on you now and for eternity. And you will eventually join Him in the place He has prepared for you.

“Change and decay in all around I see, O Thou who changest not, abide with me!”

Malachi 3:6 “I the Lord do not change.”

We sing that lyric and read that passage and come to the conclusion that change is a bad thing. Most people are not comfortable with change. This is especially true if the change is forced upon you. The only time we are even remotely comfortable with change is if it is our own idea.

Yet change is a reality in our fallen world. While we strive for consistency in our lives, change comes. It cannot be avoided. So how do you deal with change?

I came across an article I saved from years ago. It appeared in the newsletter from our Texas District Mission and Ministry Facilitators.  It was written by Lou Jander and addressed adapting to change. The author admitted that he had recently had difficulty accepting a change in his own life circumstances, but then offered a list of suggestions on not simply coping with change, but embracing it. Perhaps his suggestions could be helpful for all of us:

• Don’t sit and pout about the “new thing” replacing what was so familiar
• Approach the potential change with confidence and a spirit of discovery
• Look for what might be positive about the change instead of focusing on the “bad” things.
• Consider the BIG PICTURE and not just your own narrow little world.
• Spend some time learning the new rather than ignoring it and hoping it will go away.
• Don’t say, “This won’t work” until you’ve given it a real workout and a fair chance.
• Be willing to give up something in order to gain something else that may be of greater value in the future.
• Keep an open mind and spirit.
• Have fun adapting to the new.

Those are some solid, well-grounded suggestions for dealing with any change that may come into your life. Sometimes you may need to be willing to change things in your life for the sake of others, especially those who need to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. And the marvelous thing here is that when you do give of yourself, when you experience what it means to sacrifice for the sake of others, it will change you. You will feel the joy of serving the way God wants you to serve.

And as you roll with the changes in your life, you have the certainty of a God who is unchanging. He remains constant, steadfast, and with you in all the changes you encounter. The one who has paid the penalty your sins demanded through His life and death, the one who rose victorious over death to give you life and salvation, will not change.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.