Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- February 6, 2012
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that 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. You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:1-4
Jesus extends the promise of heaven to all who come to Him by faith. Eternal life with Him is reason enough to receive the gift of God’s grace in His Son. Jesus prepares a place in heaven for those who have prepared for heaven. His preparations are intentional for people who are intentional in their faith preparations. Heaven is prepared for the prepared.
Are you prepared for heaven? Are you standing on the promises of your Savior Jesus? His promises are profound: forgiveness of sin, eternal life with Him, grace to live life, sweet fellowship with the Holy Spirit, answered prayer, the Spirit’s leading in God’s will, peace, joy, patience, self-control and love from the Spirit’s fullness. Love is the greatest.
“We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:41-42
Paradise with Jesus is the promise He makes to all those who come to Him in repentance and faith. Christ was punished for doing right, so that our wrongs could be made right by His death. Our hearts need not be troubled, because the Lord has already gone to the trouble of paving the way for heaven. His father’s house is furnished for all His faithful followers.
You can trust the preparations of your Savior Jesus. He knows exactly what you want and need. Your assignment on earth is to love others on heaven’s behalf. Once you make your righteous reservations with Jesus, prayerfully help others prepare for heaven. Seekers still must personally engage by faith in Christ, but you can be their travel agent of trust in the Almighty. The promise of heaven is for the prepared, so prepare and help others prepare.
“Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.” Luke 14:21b-23
Lord, how can I best prepare for Your promise of heaven and also help others prepare?
Related Readings: Matthew 4:17; 16:17; Philippians 3:14, 20; 1 Thessalonians 1:10
Post/Tweet this today: Heaven is prepared for the prepared. #heaven
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I am a chaplain for 126 people with moderate to profound developmental disabilities. Our friends are non-verbal with low cognitive skills. To say that Jesus only extends a promise of eternal life with him to those who can come to him and who can be intentional about their faith excludes many people. It also does not allow for the mystery of God and does not provide for God’s grace. You go on to include Luke 14:21-23 where the master calls the lame…… Jesus accepts even those who cannot state their faith or even know what their faith may be. The acceptance into heaven does not require our intentional preparation. It involves an open spirit to the Holy Spirit and this cannot be measured in our human standards.
Thank-you for such a wonderful devotion, a great uplifting!
I really needed this one today!