Love Worth Finding

[Judy Harder]

December 18

Rejoicing at the Lord's Table

"Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine." John 21:12

Is Satan whispering that God is not for you in your daily battles? Is he whispering lies that God is going to erase your name from the book of life for something you've done, yet repented over?

Satan never had it so wrong! And Jesus never had it so right!

Salvation in Christ is not a funeral, but a feast! The Bible is a continual feast from Genesis right through to Revelation. Covenant meals and meals of fellowship are frequent occurrences in Scripture. Our Shepherd, the Lord Jesus, has given many examples of His open invitation to be replenished and restored, to remember, and to rejoice at His table.

Call your family or Bible Study group together this week and celebrate the Lord's Supper. Take time to remember the powerful promise of His resurrection, replenishment, and restoration.

[Judy Harder]

December 19

Jehovah Jireh, Our Provider

"And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick." Matthew 14:14

It is the unbelievable, supernatural replenishment that awakens the world to see the mighty power of God. Jesus demonstrated, once with a crowd of 5,000 and again with a crowd of 4,000, that He is the God who provides (see Matthew 14:14-21, 15:32-38).

When the most "responsible" thing to do, in human terms, was to ask the multitudes to find their own food, Jesus turned to the supernatural power of God. Moved with compassion, He confidently told the disciples to begin feeding the multitudes.

Jesus never wavered in His complete and utter trust in Jehovah Jireh.

Read the accounts of these miracles in Matthew with your family today, then ask God to fill your family with an utter and complete trust in Jehovah Jireh.

[Judy Harder]

December 20

God's Provision, A Living Testimony

"But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

What is it about your life that you cannot explain apart from God? Do you know that's the only part of you that is believable? Let me illustrate. If your neighbor can explain you, then you are just like him—only you're religious.

Friend, your life as a religious person is not going to convince him of the power of God. But when he sees God supernaturally meeting your needs, then, you're going to be believable.

How is your life radiating the light of our Lord in your neighborhood? Invite your neighbors over for a night of fellowship and share with them the Good News of the divine birth of Jesus.

[Judy Harder]

DECEMBER 21

Loneliness During the Holidays

"For Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling." Psalm 116:8

I believe that the holidays are the loneliest time of the year. Everywhere you look, people are told they're supposed to be happy and they realize they're not. They see everybody else acting happy, and they feel so lonely. Just walking down the mall can make you feel lonely.

But Jesus has said, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5). When I'm discouraged, His presence sees me through. When I'm lonely His presence cheers me up.  When I'm worried, His presence calms me down. And when I am tempted, His presence will help me out.

Write down the last portion of this devotional thought and personalize it. Now use it as a prayer of faith and trust.

[Judy Harder]

DECEMBER 22

But He Made Himself of No Reputation

"But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." Philippians 2:7

Jesus came in a manger for you and for me. He willingly left the glories and riches of heaven to be born in a stable.

Jesus became poor so that we might become rich. He lived a life of such abject poverty that when He had to pay taxes, He had to look for a coin in a fish's mouth. When He sent out His disciples, He told them to take nothing but a staff and the power of the Holy Spirit (Mark 6:7-9). He was put to death like a common criminal so that we could wear a royal robe!

Child of God, you are rich! I am rich! Praise God!

Read Philippians 2:6-11 with your family or friends today as a Christmas devotional. Spend time praising God for His Son, Jesus.

[Judy Harder]

DECEMBER 23

Held in His Hand

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not." 1 John 3:1

You are rich! Jesus became the Son of Man that we might become sons of God. We are saved because of the grace of Christmas. That is not rhetoric—that is reality!

A little boy was talking about eternal security and said, "I am held in His hand."

A cynic responded, "What if you slip through His hands?"

"Oh, I forgot to tell you," the boy replied, "I'm one of His fingers."

You are rich, my friend.

Amidst all the materialism that sometimes chokes out the true meaning of Christmas, take some time to share this Good News with someone today.

[Judy Harder]

DECEMBER 26

Anticipation of an Even Greater Day

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:3

It's the day after Christmas. The glow on the tree is just a little dimmer because the anticipation of the day is now past. Ever feel that way about your walk with the Lord? Well, let me give you some good news, my friend. The best is yet to be!

That's right. Christmas Day is past, but Resurrection Day is coming soon, and I don't mean Easter. I mean the Second Coming of Our Lord is imminently on the horizon.

He is coming again. And that's not just a nice thing; that's a rock-ribbed truth! Jesus is coming again!

Write down John 14:3 on a little note, and as you say goodbye to family and friends, give them this note of encouragement.




DECEMBER 27

Investing in Others for God's Glory

"I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord." Isaiah 63:7

One time a man came into a village and asked an old man living there, "Any great men born here?" The old man said, "No, just babies."

Great men are not born; great men are made, investing in the lives of others, sharing God's love, and showing His mercies.

There is not a magic formula that instantly makes us sanctified. Sanctification is a process. Our calling is to be poured out into the lives of others for His glory.

How can you show His mercies to a lost co-worker or neighbor today? Pray about it and then watch for how God provides!

[Judy Harder]

DECEMBER 28

Random Acts of Kindness

"But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great." Luke 6:35

I've seen bumper stickers that exhort us to "show random acts of kindness."  I think that's a good thing. And what is kindness?  It's love in the little things.

A woman came down the aisle of a church to give her heart to Christ, and the preacher wanted to know what had impacted her life for Christ.

She said, "You did."

The pastor said, "Well, I'd be interested to know what it was that I said that brought you to Christ."

She said, "It was nothing you said. It was something you did. I was standing nearby when somebody criticized you very unfairly. I saw the kindness with which you responded, and I knew that your faith was real."

What random act of kindness can you do today that will demonstrate that your faith is real?

[Judy Harder]

DECEMBER 29

Be an Encourager

"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;  Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Someone has well said that discouragement is a darkroom where the negatives of fear and failure are developed.

Some people are encouragers and others are discouragers. Have you ever met a discourager? They're like a drink of water to a drowning man. They can brighten up a room by leaving it. They leave you drained and depressed.

But an encourager leaves you full and refreshed. God has cornered the market on encouragement. All encouragement comes from God. You're never more like God than when you're encouraging people and never more like the devil than when you are discouraging people.

Find a needy person and enrich him; a lonely person and include him; a misunderstood person and affirm him; an undiscovered person and develop him; a failing person and restore him.
 

[Judy Harder]

DECEMBER 30

Eternity . . .

"That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16

Your soul, made in the image of God, will exist forever. I think Billy Sunday, the evangelist, said it this way: "Imagine a little bird taking a grain of sand and flying to a distant planet. It would take him a million years to fly to that distant planet. Then he would drop that grain of sand. Then the little bird would fly back to the earth taking another million years. He gets another grain of sand and flies back to the distant planet.

"Back and forth, back and forth it goes. When he will have transplanted every speck of earth to that distant planet, it will only be breakfast time in eternity."

Your soul will go on, and on, and on.

Where do you plan on spending eternity? Where do your loved ones plan on spending it? If you don't know, ask them today and get their salvation on the right side of eternity.