Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- September 29, 2013
“Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying God is one and there is no other but him.” When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him,
“You are not far from the Kingdom of God…” Mark 12:32, 34a
Jesus affirms a teachable heart, for He knows it has potential to learn and understand the things of God. Thus, a teachable heart is positioned to receive truth, and has an attitude with more questions than answers.
However, a teachable heart does recognize truth when it comes knocking. It invites truth in to be examined, understood, and applied. Truth invigorates the teachable heart, and there is a rush of spiritual adrenaline when it intersects with an open mind and heart. Pride plateaus in its learning, but a teachable heart continues to scale the mountain of truth. Thus, when God discovers someone who is teachable, He calls him wise. Wisdom comes from God; therefore, a teachable heart learns the ways of God. God is not offended by teachability, though there is a tension that arises when truth begins to facilitate changes in behavior and attitude. This change of heart seems somewhat innocuous from the outside looking in, but most of us do not like to be told what to do.
Change doesn’t come easily, even as you understand that God has your best interests in mind. But the transformation is telling. Your character and behavior fall more in line with Jesus’ and your spouse and children notice something different; your patience, rather than your intimidation, becomes dominant; your bad beliefs are replaced with good ones; so let your teachable heart start first with God.
God is one. He is not many gods, but one God. He is not a mini-god, but the great and glorious God of the galaxies. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are all one God. His oneness is to be worshipped and celebrated. Thus, your love relationship with the one true God is not to be rivaled by any other gods. Any acceptance of other gods is unacceptable to God. He is jealous for you. Your love for anyone or anything will pale in relation to your love for Christ.
To love God is to make room for God in all aspects of your life. You love Him when you love others, when you give sacrificially, when you strive for excellence in your work, and when you pray for and forgive others. Love is action; therefore, love Him and allow Him to love you.
Let His expectations mold yours, because what God thinks trumps any other thinking. The Holy Spirit within you has the answers to the questions that consume your thinking. Follow His internal promptings, not the external clamor. What you believed yesterday will be dwarfed by what you learn tomorrow. Know God, love God, and learn of Him. He affirms a teachable heart as one who fears the Lord.
The Bible teaches, “Assemble the people—men, women, and children, and the aliens living in your towns—so they can listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and follow carefully all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 31:12). Stay teachable in your understanding of God.
Taken from the September 29th reading in the 365-day devotional book, “Seeking Daily the Heart of God” volume 1… http://bit.ly/Tv6y9a
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© 2013 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.
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I would like to ask you a question.
When I get to heaven and my wife gets there or is there. Well I realize that I knew her and was married to her on earth?
Thank you.
I do support your ministry and want you to know every time I read (most every day !) I am always blessed and encouraged to seek to know Him better and trust Him. A lot of times I print my email and give it to someone who God puts in my path and prompts me to give it to them. Thank you for sharing in such a bold and heartfelt manner! You are appreciated and a blessing to the body !!
Dear Arnold~
What a great question and one that so many believers that have lost loved ones struggle with, as well as, believers that are living with their loved ones. What a gift it would be to have the assurance that we will be together, recognizing our loved ones in eternity! So, I go to “the answer book” for all questions (the ultimate answer book), the Word of God, the Bible.
In scripture, while I do not find a definite answer that we will indeed recognize our spouses when we get to heaven, I do find several “hints” in God’s Word that our brothers and sisters in Christ have recognized those that have gone before them. Let me share some of those verses:
In Matt. 17:3-4, we learn that Peter, James and John recognize Moses and Elijah. “Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters- one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
In 1Thessalonians 2:19-20, we learn that Paul believes he will recognize some of the Thessalonians that he knew and ministered to when they are in heaven. “For what is our great hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord when He comes. Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.”
Although there are more “hints” throughout scripture to hope for a eternal reunion with our loved ones, what I know for sure is” when we do get to Heaven~ our joy, our absolute happiness will be like nothing we have experienced on earth! We cannot even come close to realizing the wonder that is heaven! Being face to face with our Creator, our God, will be the ultimate blessing!
Rev. 21:4 says “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Rev. 21:21-23 says “The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made from a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it for the Glory of the God gives it light.”
All of His children, we believers, have His Promise that we will be in Heaven, together, if we truly believe.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16