Fear Not, 39

~ Daniel Tells of God’s Peace ~

God does not want His children living in fear.  “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:2-3).

“Fear not,” or its equivalent, is recorded many times in Scripture—ALN will post one “fear not” each week during this calendar year.

This Week’s Verse  ~  “Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me.  And he said, ‘O man greatly beloved, fear not!  Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!’” (Daniel 10:18-19).

The Foundation Of Peace  ~  “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid” (Psalm 27:1).

The Solution If You Lack Peace  ~  “Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble” (Psalm 119:165).  “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You” (Isaiah 26:3).  “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Summary  ~  “No Christ = No Peace” versus “Know Christ = Know Peace”

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Persuaded?

~ One Effort Yields Three Responses ~

We Persuade Men (the witness)  ~  “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.  Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences” (2 Corinthians 5:9-11). 

There are three common results from our efforts to persuade men, women, boys, and girls about the One who is the [only] Way, the [source of all] Truth, and the [only path to eternal life with God] Life (John 14:6).

Never Persuaded (the hardened)  ~  As He was looking forward to the Cross of Calvary Jesus said, “But He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead’” (Luke 16:31). 

Almost Persuaded (the procrastinator)  ~  “Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You almost persuade me to become a Christian’” (Acts 26:28).  note: This is has the same end result as being never persuaded.

I Am Persuaded (the Christian)  ~  “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Shadow of His Wings

~ Consider Some of the Benefits of Being Under His Wings  ~

“The owl will nest there and lay eggs, she will hatch them, and care for her young under the shadow of her wings; there also the falcons will gather, each with its mate” (Isaiah 34:15).

The Scriptures present a beautiful word picture of the Christian’s place as a child of God—being under the shadow of His wings.

A Place of Hiding  ~  “Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You from those who rise up against them.  Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me under the shadow of Your wings, from the wicked who oppress me, from my deadly enemies who surround me” (Psalm 17:7-9). 

A Place of Refuge  ~  “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!  For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by.  I will cry out to God Most High, to God who performs all things for me.  He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up.  Selah.  God shall send forth His mercy and His truth” (Psalm 57:1-3). 

“Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.  He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.  You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday” (Psalm 91:3-6).   

A Place of Trust  ~  “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!  Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.  They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.  For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light” (Psalm 36:7-9). 

“For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy.  I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.  Selah” (Psalm 61:3-4). 

A Place of Abundant Satisfaction  ~  “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!  Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.  They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.  For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light” (Psalm 36:7-9).  

A Place of Rejoicing  ~  True joy is yet another asset of those who know their Creator and know their final destiny.  “When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.  Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.  My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me” (Psalm 63:6-8). 

summary:  “Under the shadow of His wings” is a wonderful word picture of the benefits Christians enjoy.  For example, protection is a key element of being a child of God—a place of hiding and of refuge is provided for those who have put their trust in God.  

Consistent and reliable love is another key element.  Abundant satisfaction far beyond what is obtainable in any other way is perhaps one of the best descriptions of the Christian life—“Abundant Life Now!”    

response:  How about you?  Are you under His protection?  Do you have complete confidence in His never failing love toward you?  Do you maintain a deep inner satisfaction and joy regardless of your circumstances?

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .