This Sunday Morning hymn is in honor and memory of my precious mother who is now with Jesus. It was her favorite.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life”. (John 3:16)
“Jesus Loves Me”
Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong; They are weak but He is strong.
Jesus loves me! Loves me still, Tho I’m very weak and ill, That I might from sin be free, Bled and died upon the tree.
Jesus loves me! He who died Heaven’s gate to open wide; He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in.
Jesus loves me! He will stay Close beside me all the way. Thou hast bled and died for me; I will henceforth live for Thee.
Chorus Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
The Story Behind Jesus Loves Me
–Anna B. Warner, 1820 -1915
“Jesus Loves Me” is one of the most popular Christian hymns around the world, especially among children. Anna B. Warner first wrote the hymn as a poem. Anna’s sister Susan requested a poem for a dying child and Anna wrote the beautiful words of Jesus Loves Me to bring comfort and peace.
Anna’s poem appeared in a novel, Say and Seal, and was composed by William Bradbury in 1862.
“Jesus Loves Me,” with its simple, direct message, is one of the first hymns missionaries teach to new converts. It was the favorite hymn of Francis Schaeffer, who recognized that, ultimately, intellectuals and children need the simple message of Jesus. Amy Carmichael, the Irish missionary to India, was converted after hearing this hymn at a children’s mission in Yorkshire, England.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
There is one text of Scripture that towers above and beyond all others. It is without question the single, most known Bible verse in the entire world. And the expression it produces is always one of awe.
It is known by the youngest of children who are first learning to read, and it is pondered by the oldest of the aged who stand on the threshold of eternity.
Of course, I’m referring to John 3:16 —It is that singular sentence that stands uniquely alone – needing no commentary, and soliciting only reverence.
Adapted from “That Singular Sentence” a devotion by James Ryle.
And He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father’ (Luke 11:2)
HEAVEN IS “the Father’s House.” It is our Home. We are strangers and sojourners here, and on our way home. What fascination is in the word! Home will draw the sailor, soldier, explorer, prodigal from the ends of the earth. God has given to most of us the dear memory of what Home is, that we may guess at what awaits us and be smitten with home-sickness. “Blessed are the home-sick, for they shall reach home!”
But the charm of Heaven will be the manifested presence of our Father. All doubts and misunderstandings will be dissipated. We shall know and see, as we are seen and known. In the closing verses of Jude we are told that we shall be set before the presence of His glory, without blemish and in exceeding joy. It is as though our Saviour will introduce us to the manifested presence of the Father.
But we need not wait till then. If we know our Lord, we know the Father. It troubled Christ that His disciples had been so long with Him in familiar intercourse and yet had not realised that the beauty and holiness which shone from His nature were beams of the Father’s character. To have Jesus is to have the Father. To know Jesus is to know the Father. To pray to Him is to pray to God, for He is God manifest in the flesh. He is not simply an incarnation of God, in the sense of the old Greek mythology, adopting a cloak or disguise which was afterwards cast off. God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.
There must be reverence in our prayer. God is in heaven and we upon the earth. We must not rush unceremoniously into His presence, as though it were a common and too-familiar room, where ceremony and respect are laid aside. There should be the constant remembrance that in prayer we stand in the presence-chamber of the great Creator, Preserver, and Ruler of the Universe. We wipe our shoes and remove our hats when we enter the home of our friend; let us not forget our manners in the opening sentences of prayer. Angels veil their faces and cry “Holy!”
But there may be a blessed faith and trust when we pray. The Father of Jesus awaits us. He ascended to His Father and our Father. We pray to One who loves us in His Beloved Son with an everlasting love, and holds out the golden sceptre towards us.
PRAYER
I adore Thee, Heavenly Father! There is no limit to Thy power, or to Thy love. Thou art greatly to be praised! Thou art greatly to be loved! Accept the homage of my soul and life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
From“Our Daily Walk” by F.B. Meyer. A series of devotions on The Lord’s Prayer.
It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” (Luke 11:1)
THERE IS no other such Teacher as Christ. He was the Master in the art of prayer, and has taught all the greatest intercessors among the sons of men. His own example has been their incentive. It was because they saw Him praying that one of the disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray—an example of the power of unconscious influence. If a boy kneels in prayer in the school bedroom, he will be almost sure to start others praying.
Be natural in prayer. Do not repeat prayers the face of which has become worn away by constant usage. Find out approximately what your needs will be; and ask for the needed grace, as a child of a father.
Intercede for others. Do not use exclusively “I,” “me,” and “my,” but “we,” “our,” and “us.” Remember how Christ interwove intercession with every petition of the prayer He taught His disciples.
“Have Faith in God” really means reckon on God’s faithfulness to you
Be sure to receive as well as ask. No beggar is content with asking. He plies his errand until he receives. Alas, that we are so often content to ask with no thought of receiving. Before we rise from our knees, having pleaded for something that is contained in the Divine promises, we should dare to believe that we do receive the petitions that we have desired. “Have Faith in God” really means reckon on God’s faithfulness to you. Do not look at your faith. He who is ever considering his health will become an invalid; he who always looks down at his faith will cut the very roots from which faith grows, will shut out the beam by which faith lives. Look away to the character of God—the faithful God, who keepeth covenant and mercy for ever.
Leave the ultimate answers to your prayer to His infinite wisdom. Not unfrequently, to reverse our Lord’s words, children ask for stones and not bread; entreat for scorpions and not fish. Under such circumstances it is wise and good of God to say No to our requests, and to give us what we would ask if we knew all as He does. When we get to heaven we shall have to thank Him as much for the unanswered as for the answered prayers.
Be sure to give the Master time to teach you how to pray. It is necessary to wait for Him, when we feel less earnest, as when the fire burns most vehemently. He likes the regular hours for His pupils, and that they should not hurry impetuously away from His gracious words.
PRAYER
Teach me to pray, O Lord, as Thou didst teach Thy disciples of old, and winnow my prayers that I may desire and ask only those things that are according to Thy will. AMEN.
From “Our Daily Walk” a devotional series on The Lord’s Prayer by F.B. Meyer
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; (2 Corinthians 4:7)
God has placed extraordinary heavenly treasure in ordinary earthen vessels. This is true of every person who has been redeemed by the blood of Christ. The Lord has arranged it this way so that the vessels (you and me) must rely upon the treasure (Jesus Christ), not upon ourselves: “that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” Also, this arrangement is to bring attention and glory to the Lord, not to the vessels.
The Lord is the treasure in the “clay pot” of our redeemed humanity. He is to be the “excellent power” in our lives. He is the one we are to trust in as our strength for daily living. When the battles grow fierce, trust in the Lord. When we need patience or endurance, trust in the Lord. When we need strength for our latter years, trust in the Lord. Even in times of extreme personal weakness, His strength can be especially apparent. “I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me . . . For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2Co 12:9-10).
The temptation is to trust in our “sturdy structure” (or in those who claim to be able to strengthen or reinforce weak vessels). Our personal resources will fail, but the Lord who dwells in our hearts will not fail. The world system with all of its impressive riches calls us to place our confidence in their resources. The Lord warns us that such misplaced trust becomes our downfall. We are to trust the Lord to be our strength. Then, we are to give the Lord glory for the strength He supplies.
O Lord, the strength of my life, forgive me for relying upon myself and for looking to worldly resources. I want to place all of my trust in Jesus, the treasure who lives within me. May all glory be unto Him, in His mighty name,
Today’s devotion was adapted and edited from “Day By Day Grace” devotional by Bob Hoekstra.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)
In light of God being our sufficiency for the development of godly characteristics, this benedictory prayer in Ephesians 3 becomes an appropriate and instructive response.
It begins with the most critical issue for living the Christian life: the ability of God: “Now to Him who is able.” Natural religious thinking would consider the ability of man as the most vital matter in developing a godly life. Such an approach would leave us striving vainly under the law, attempting to live up to God’s perfect standards by our own inadequate resources. Praise be to God, there is a heavenly, effective option: relying upon God’s ability.
Think of the immeasurable ability of the Lord. “Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You” (Jer 32:17). He created the entire universe. Certainly, by His power He is able to strengthen us. “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me? ” (Jer 32:27). Our Lord rules over all of humanity. Surely, He is able to manage our lives. Actually, our God is “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.” Everything we could ask concerning His will, He is able to do far beyond that. Whatever we might contemplate but hesitate to ask, He is able to surpass that.
The most amazing aspect of God exercising His ability on our behalf is that He unleashes His power within our lives: “according to the power that works in us.” This is exactly how the Lord wants to develop godliness in our lives. He Himself desires to work by the power of His grace deep within our hearts. “For it is good that the heart be established by grace” (Heb 13:9).
Again, the Christian life is not affected from the outside in, hoping to modify our behavior by external religious pressures. Rather, it involves a true change of character within, affected by God Himself. This is how God is ultimately glorified in the lives of His people: “to Him be glory in the church.” He works a genuine transformation of life in and through us. Then, we give Him the glory for His exceedingly abundant ability.
Lord God of exceeding abundance, I worship You as the one who is able to do all things well. Forgive me for repeatedly turning to my ability. Lord, as I seek You in Your word, build my faith. Unleash the powerful life of Your Son within my heart, making me what You want me to be, through Christ I pray, Amen.
Today’s devotional is from “Day By Day Grace” by Bob Hoekstra
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders. (1 Chronicles 16:9)
We praise You, O God, our Redeemer, Creator, In grateful devotion our tribute we bring. We lay it before You, we kneel and adore You, We bless Your holy name, glad praises we sing.
We worship You, God of our fathers, we bless You; Thro’ life’s storm and tempest our Guide You have been. When perils o’ertake us, You will not forsake us, And with Your help, O Lord, our battles we win.
With voices united our praises we offer, And gladly our songs of thanksgiving we raise. With You, Lord, beside us, Your strong arm will guide us. To You, our great Redeemer, forever be praise.
Words by Julia C. Corey., 1902
Julia C. Cory
1882-1963
Julia C. Cory (Julia Buckley Cady Cory) was born in New York, NY in 1882. She was the daughter of a prominent New York architect, J. Cleveland Cady. Her father was also a Sunday school superintendent and amateur hymnologist. Partly because of his influence Julia began to write hymns at an early age. She was a member of the Brick Presbyterian Church. She married Robert Haskell Cory in 1911 and was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Englewood, NJ for all of her married life. She was a member of the Hymn Society that met in New York City all her adult life and died in Englewood, NJ in 1963.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
In all the ways that matter before God, “old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” The old guilt is replaced by new forgiveness. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus… in whom we have… the forgiveness of sins” (Romans 8:1 and Colossians 1:14).
The old foolishness is replaced by new wisdom. The old unrighteousness is replaced with new righteousness. The old hope of changing (self-help) is replaced by new hope of changing (sanctification, God changing us). “you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30)
This is grace upon grace.
Devotional is an excerpt from “Day By Day Grace” by Bob Hoekstra
We’ve heard them all our lives, words of “wisdom” quoted as scripture. It all sounds right so it must be gospel, right? Well, maybe not. Below are some well known sayings that are frequently attributed to the Bible. I think you may be surprised to learn what the Bible DOESN’T say.
GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES
This statement is actually anti-Gospel. Obviously God gave us gifts and talents that we’re supposed to use, but self-reliance and self-righteousness, or the attitude of trying harder and doing better actually gets in the way of the work of God.
In reality, Jesus saves those who die to themselves: “Then Jesus told His disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me’” (Matthew 16:24).
GOD WANTS ME TO BE HAPPY
It’s a common belief that God exists to be our “personal genie” waiting to give us our every wish. It’s amazing how we will justify our sinful actions by saying, “God just wants me to be happy.”
Happiness is tied to feelings and emotions that are often based on circumstances, and those change all the time. God wants us to be obedient to Him, trust Him and know that everything He does is for our good, even if it doesn’t make us feel “happy” in that moment.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
WE’RE ALL GOD’S CHILDREN
Although God has created everyone, not everyone relationally belongs to Him. Only those who have repented of sin, placed their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and possess the Holy Spirit of God inside of them can claim Him as their Father:
“But you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:15-16).
“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ … If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:26-29, emphasis mine in both verses).
CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS
The people around you may appreciate you staying clean, but this is not Scripture. Parents may use this to motivate their kids to clean their rooms. However, I’d suggest using an actual biblical statement: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12). (I can’t guarantee that will make your children want to clean up either, though).
GOD WON’T GIVE YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN HANDLE
Actually, all of life is more than we can handle. The point of living in a fallen world is not for us to try really hard to carry our heavy burden, but rather realize we can’t do it alone and surrender to God instead. That’s what faith is all about.
Everything is more than I can handle, but not more than Jesus can handle: “For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself” (2 Corinthians 1:8).
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE
The sentiment of this makes sense, but if we follow it all the way through, the idea of a good person is very subjective. Often, we place ourselves in the judgment seat of what is good and bad, or who is good and bad.
The most popular way to make that judgment is by comparison. For example, Bob is a good guy, because he is not as bad as Sam. However, according to the Bible we’re all on equal ground because none of us is inherently good: “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one’” (Romans 3:10).
LOVE THE SINNER. HATE THE SIN
This one goes back a ways, but not quite to biblical times. In the 5th Century, Augustine wrote a line which translates roughly to “with love for mankind and hatred of sins.”
Later, Ghandi, a practitioner of Hindiusm said, “hate the sin and not the sinner.”
Still, both loving sinners and hating sin are biblical (Matthew 5:43-44, Psalm 97:10).
BE IN THE WORLD, BUT NOT OF THE WORLD
This one may surprise you, but that phrase is nowhere in the Bible. As much as you may think it’s an exact quote from the sermon on the Mount or another verse, it’s not there.
Parts of the sentiment are, however, expressed in various places in Scripture (John 15:9, John 17:14-15, Romans 12:1-2). Just don’t try to find that word-for-word as a verse in your Bible.
WHEN YOU DIE, GOD GAINS ANOTHER ANGEL
Plain and simple. Humans are humans, and angels are angels. This remains so even in eternity. In fact, angels are intrigued by the interaction between God and His “image-bearing” humans: “It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look” (1 Peter 1:12).
MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL
Close, but the frequently quoted phrase is missing a few important words. 1 Timothy 6:10 actually says that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.
God doesn’t want you swimming around in gold coins in a gigantic money bank like Scrooge McDuck, but He may bless you financially so that you can bless others.
GOD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS
It’s one of those true-ish statements, but it’s not a Bible verse. Sure, Scripture is full of God doing things in unusual (to us) ways.
Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us that God’s ways are different from ours. But no biblical prophet ever uttered those words.
The fact that many Christians believe these unbiblical statements shows our unfortunate overall biblical illiteracy. Instead of swallowing popular statements hook-line-and-sinker, may we be like the Bereans in the Book of Acts. When they heard Paul preach, they wanted to research the Scriptures themselves to authenticate what he was saying: “They received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:10-11).
Yesterday I posted a short quiz to help you discover if what you have come to believe about spiritual agrees with what scripture teaches. How did you do? I would love to hear from you.
Below you will find the answer and supporting scripture for each question.
1. Satan is omnipresent? False
Satan can only be in one place at a time. However, he does have legions of demons who do his bidding and they are everywhere seeking to destroy believers testimonies.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. (Job 1:7)
Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side…? (Job 1:9-10a)
2.Christians as well as non-believers can be possessed by a demon/demons? False
What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (2 Corinthians 6:15-16)
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
3. Born-again Christians are no longer enslaved to Satan or to sin? True
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.For one who has died has been set free from sin. (Romans 6:6-7)
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:14)
4. Christians have the authority and responsibility to rebuke Satan? F
There is no biblical basis for such a belief.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
It is the Lord who rebukes Satan
And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” (Zechariah 3:2, ESV)
Even Michael, one of the most powerful of the angels, did not dare to accuse Satan
But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” (Jude 1:9)
In response to Satan’s attacks, a Christian should appeal to Christ. Instead of focusing on defeating the devil, we should focus on following Christ
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)
5. We are helpless against the forces of evil? False
The most effective weapons we have against the devil are our faith, wisdom, and knowledge about God and His Word. Christ, when tempted by Satan, answered him with Scripture
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.'” And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time,and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'” And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'” And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'”And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. (Luke 4:1-13)
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
The Bible does not give Christians the authority to rebuke the devil, but to resist him. James 4:7 says to “submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Zechariah 3:2 tells. Even Michael, one of the most powerful of the angels, did not dare to accuse Satan, but rather said, “The Lord rebuke you” (Jude 1:9).Hebrews 12:2) and trust that He will defeat the forces of evil.
It is not necessary for a Christian to rebuke Satan because God has given us His full armor to stand against evil. To gain victory in spiritual matters, we must maintain a clear conscience and have control over our thoughts.
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
GotQuestions.com. Posted the following concerning spiritual warfare.
The most effective weapons we have against the devil are our faith, wisdom, and knowledge about God and His Word. Christ, when tempted by Satan, answered him with Scripture.
There are two primary errors when it comes to spiritual warfare—over-emphasis and under-emphasis. Some blame every sin, every conflict, and every problem on demons that need to be cast out. Others completely ignore the spiritual realm and the fact that the Bible tells us our battle is against spiritual powers. The key to successful spiritual warfare is finding the biblical balance.
A word of caution concerning spiritual warfare is in order. The name of Jesus is not a magic incantation that causes demons to flee from before us. The seven sons of Sceva are an example of what can happen when people presume an authority they have not been given (Acts 19:13–16). Even Michael the archangel did not rebuke Satan in his own power but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 1:9). When we start talking to the devil, we run the risk of being led astray as Eve was (Genesis 3:1–7). Our focus should be on God, not demons; we speak to Him, not them.
In summary, what are the keys to success in spiritual warfare? We rely on God’s power, not our own. We put on the whole armor of God. We draw on the power of Scripture—the Word of God is the Spirit’s sword. We pray in perseverance and holiness, making our appeal to God. We stand firm (Ephesians 6:13–14); we submit to God; we resist the devil’s work (James 4:7), knowing that the Lord of hosts is our protector. “Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken” (Psalm 62:2).
Sandra Bivens Smith 