Thoughts while Traveling

Great weekend...more to follow. We are moving into this fabulous house in a month and a half. He gives.

Discouraging news came via mail. He takes away.

Needed this reminder of His promises that never fail~ a devotional by Alicia Britt Cole:

My word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty." Isaiah 55.11, niv

Generations ago, our elders were taught that, “a man is only as good as his word.” The adage represented a belief that you could judge someone’s character by their ability to make and keep promises.

But beliefs in general, and promises in particular, are more questioned than trusted in our day. An epidemic of broken promises has left us wondering if anyone’s word is reliable. So when others make promises, we smile politely and wisely ask them to sign this legal document, that official contract, or those binding agreements so that we are protected in the event that they fail to keep their word.

But there is One who has never failed. There is One whose words have never been empty and whose promises have never been broken. This One has vowed that His Word will never return void:

"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Isaiah 55.10-11

Once released from the clouds, the law of gravity promises that rain will fall down. Once released from His mouth, God’s character promises that His Word will never fail. It certainly never failed when it was released from Jesus’ mouth.

The apostle John stated that, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father.” (John 1.14) Through a mystery we can only faintly comprehend, God’s spoken Word walked among us in the Person of Jesus Christ. And wherever His words fell, life grew.

Jesus said, “Be clean!” and a leper was cured. (Matthew 8.3)

Jesus said, “Take your mat and go home” and a paralytic walked out the door. (Matthew 9.6)

Jesus said, “Stretch out your hand” and man’s shriveled arm was restored. (Matthew 9.13)

Jesus said, “Your request is granted” and a mother’s daughter was healed. (Matthew 15.28)

Jesus said “Come out of him!” and an oppressed man knew peace. (Mark 1.25)

Jesus said, “Be freed” and a sick women stopped bleeding. (Mark 5.34)

Jesus said, “Be opened” and a man could hear and speak. (Mark 7.34)

Jesus said, “Go, your faith has healed you” and Bartimaeus received his sight. (Mark 10.52)

Jesus said, “Get up” to a widow’s dead son and a funeral turned into a dance. (Luke 7.14)

Jesus said, “Your sins are forgiven” and a prostitute felt peace. (Luke 7.48)

Jesus said, “My child, get up!” and a father’s grief turned to tears of joy. (Luke 8.54)

Jesus said, “You are set free” and a crippled woman stood tall. (Luke 13.12)

Jesus said, “I who speak to you am he” and a Samaritan woman believed. (John 4.26)

Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you” and an adulteress received a second chance. (John 8.11)

Jesus said, “Come out!” and Lazarus emerged from his tomb. (John 11.43)

Jesus said, “It is finished” and the barrier separating us from God was torn in two. (John 19.30)

May faith arise in our hearts! God has not stopped speaking. The Bible is filled with His Words. None of them are empty. None of them will fail. His Word can still make us whole and stop the bleeding in our souls. His Word still brings peace to the troubled and hope to the grieving. His Word still cleanses hearts and brings life to the dead.