Just The Right Time – April 6, 2009

Just The Right time

2 Corinthians 6:1-2

Jim Stephens

04-06-09

 

Scripture:

 

1 As God’s partners, we beg you not to reject this marvelous message of God’s great kindness. 2 For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, God is ready to help you right now. Today is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:1-2 NLT)

 

Paul often referred to his message as the gospel, the Good News.  Like Paul’s message, our message is the marvelous message of God’s great kindness.  Here’s God’s message to me and my message to you today:

 

God is kind.  He is kind to sinners like you and me.

 

God is aware.  He is listening all the time and he hears every heart cry directed his way, no matter how desperate.  No matter how poorly expressed.  No matter how intellectually uniformed the expression of a desperate heart, God hears.

 

God is working on your situation.  On my day of salvation, God helps me.  Sometimes the cry of my heart seems to go unheard.  Sometimes the situation continues to worsen.  Sometimes I work through all the possible scenarios and God seems to completely ignore each obvious opportunity to help me.

 

God comes through at just the right time.  God is ready to help you right now.  It’s his timing, not yours.  It’s his solution, not one of the many you worked out.  God is ready to help you right now.  Simply cry out to him with the most honest expression of your heart and trust him to hear you and help you at just the right time.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, This prayer is usually about me, about my heart response to what you say to me as I allow your word to intersect my life.  But today I pray for someone who is reading this note who has only enough faith for one more desperate heart cry to you.  Please fulfill this word to them today… For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, God is ready to help you right now. Today is the day of salvation.  Amen.

Wonderful Stories – January 24, 2009

Wonderful Stories

Exodus 10:2

Jim Stephens

01-24-09

 

Scripture:

 

You will be able to tell wonderful stories to your children and grandchildren about the marvelous things I am doing among the Egyptians to prove that I am the Lord.  (Exodus 10:2 NLT)

 

Observation and Application:

 

Life can get pretty scary sometimes.  The destructive power of the plagues on Egypt was becoming more and more intense and the only thing protecting the Israelis from the devastation was God’s care for them.

 

The followers of Christ face the same challenges as everyone else in our world when trying times come.  We face financial reversal, we face health issues, we experience sorrow and loss and disappointments and delays.

 

We can rejoice that God is with us and that his care and provision in the face of huge challenges makes us able to tell wonderful stories to our children and grandchildren (and to everyone else!) about the marvelous things God does for us and in us.

 

15 I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, for I am overwhelmed by how much you have done for me. 16 I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign Lord. I will tell everyone that you alone are just and good. 17 O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I have constantly told others about the wonderful things you do. 18 Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me. (Psalm 71:15-18 NLT)

 

Prayer:

 

Father, Please remind us of the wonderful stories of all you have done for us through the years.  May we be prompted by your Spirit to tell the wonderful stories to our children and grandchildren and to Christ-followers whose faith is new and to people who are facing the scary things in life without real hope.  I purpose to tell at least one wonderful story of your provision, protection, and care today.  Amen.