Forever Stamps & Forever Stamped

John 3:16, John 5:24, John 6:40

Some time ago, stamps increased to 45 cents. I was not aware of the change, so I mailed several letters (some bills), and then the next day I read of the increase in the paper. I became very frustrated and wondered why our mail lady did not put the mail back into our box for correct postage. She is usually great about this kind of thing. I fussed around and made comments about getting our mail back and having to send it again. I then mentioned it to my son-in-law, and he asked, " Did you use ‘forever’ stamps?”

Then it hit me – Yes, I did!  I only buy "forever" stamps to avoid this kind of thing. I had forgotten!

This episode reminded me of God’s love. Do I sometimes forget salvation is "forever" and that God is always present with me?  "Forever"!

The satisfaction of knowing that I would not have to re-mail all the letters was calming. The fact that I could count on the post office, though, paled when I thought of always being able to count on God. The post office is managed by humans, and they err, but my future is managed by God and He has never lost one of His and He promises never to leave me alone.

He says in John 10: 28-30 that I am saved forever, and no one can snatch me out of His hand.

I can count on God keeping His Word. He promises to be with me no matter what: joy, sadness, difficulty, pain, disease, at times of worship, and at times of sowing and harvesting. He has "Forever" stamped by my name.

 

LDiz

It's Our Choice

As we start this New Year, now's a great time to evaluate -- what choice have you made for your life?  Have you chosen to follow Christ? or do your own thing?

Deut. 30: 11-20

To serve Christ is not a mysterious thing but is plainly taught in the whole Bible – not like some magic formula or demanding service of self-abasement as in so many other religions. To serve Christ is to have a relationship with a God who cares more about us than any could ever imagine and Someone who wants the best for each one of us.

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible tells us of God’s love for us and how He made provision for us to spend eternity with Him. But it is our choice to believe what He has said and promised. This is true, not like so many other things that sound “too good to be true” and really aren’t. From the beginning and from the day of Moses, until now, mankind has been reminded of His love.  But He is also the God of Justice, and the Justice of God demands a sacrifice of perfection. Jesus was the only One who was, has always been and always is perfect and could satisfy that sacrifice for sins. Our works can never be good enough to reach God’s standard. We can freely accept Jesus’s atoning sacrifice for us and spend eternity with Him. It’s our choice.

But after we make this choice, we are not free to choose the consequences of that choice - so in a way our choice determines our choices! As a Christian, after we choose Him, He will take the circumstances of life to make us more like Him. We’re to submit and allow those circumstances to mold us so He can use us to draw people to Him, just as He and others down through the years have drawn people to Him by our transformed lives (Rom 12:1-2).  Then we will be able to say that we will spend eternity with Him (Deuteronomy 30:20).

People often say that they believe the Bible from cover to cover, but many seldom read it and learn to count on the promises.  They really do not know what it says, except for what they have heard others say it says. It is a book that brings us closer to Christ because it is all about Him. It’s His Story.

 

May we all want to know Him more intimately beginning now for this New Year.

LDIZ