A Record in Eternity

¹⁸ He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹ I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. ²⁰ However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Luke 10:18-20 (NIV)

Being saved more than anything else is worthy of celebration.

Rejoice!

I remind myself today that my name is written in heaven.  In the Book of Life. For eternity! 

I can't sink in myself to what God calls eternity.  But I only have to believe that eternity is real.  That eternity with God is worth more than anything.  I was once a sinner and Jesus saved me.  He has given me life in eternity.

Thank You, Jesus!


[Journal entry: September 10, 2013]

Dressed and Lit Lamps

Photo credit: anglicanprayer.wordpress.com

 35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.

- Luke 12:35-36

Today, I am reminded that Jesus is coming soon again. I can't afford to sleep, but instead to stay vigilant of His coming.


[Journal entry: April 25, 2012]

Good Gifts From The Father

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

- Luke 11:9-13

Photo courtesy: sanderssays.typepad.com

Heavenly Father,

I praise You for You have allowed Yourself to be a Father to me. I thank You for adopting me as Your daughter.  I thank You for being the Giver of good gifts.  Father, there is nothing You hold back from those who ask from You.  Father, thank You that I can boldly ask You for Your provision, and that You are more than willing and able to fill me with the Holy Spirit when I ask.  This I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

[Journal entry: April 24, 2012]

Turning Stones Into Bread

3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” 5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

- Luke 4:3-13

 

The devil tempted Jesus three times during His forty days fasting; it was when Jesus was physically weak that the devil grabbed the chance.  Jesus, the Son of God, was tempted.  And why was Jesus tempted by the devil? “Temptation is part of the human experience.”  Jesus was fully human and fully God.  Jesus had to experience temptation as well for Him to be able to understand us fully.

Do Not Be Afraid

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.  When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.  But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.  Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.

- Luke 1: 11-13

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God”

- Luke 1:29-30

That night the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham.  Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.”

- Genesis 26:24

See, the Lord your God has given you the land.  Go up and take possession of it as the Lord, the God of your fathers, told you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

- Deuteronomy 1:21

God always has four words for His people: DO NOT BE AFRAID.  When He speaks to His people, His introductory address is “Do not afraid.” When He calls His people, He commands them, “Do not be afraid.” Even His angels, the messengers, tell His people to not be afraid.   So I ask myself, “Is God that frightening to His chosen people for them to be in a fearful state? Why their first reaction would be to get frightened? What is there to be afraid of?”

“Do not be afraid” – a command from God; a comfort to those who fear; an assurance of God.  I guess those whom God called in the Bible were afraid of the unknown.  Same goes with us.  We are afraid of the uncertainty.  We are afraid of whom we do not know.  We are afraid of the big, overwhelming things.  We are afraid we might not handle things well.  We are afraid to believe in the promise; that it might not be fulfilled. There are many reasons to be afraid, but God commands us not to.  God comforts us not to be afraid, for He always brings good news, and He always fulfills good promises.

Personally, I have a confession to make.  Sometimes, I find it hard to believe when God says not to be afraid.  Why? That is because I haven’t known God fully yet.  And to me, trusting someone whom you haven’t really known is not a good idea.  I admit that I still lack knowledge of who God really is, for I know there is something more about Him to discover every time I open the Bible.  But praise God! Praise God! He has not called me to be afraid, but to trust Him for He has proven Himself faithful.  I thank God for being patient with me, drawing me near to His Presence, wooing me towards His love, revealing Himself to me.  He whispers, “Do not be afraid, Sheslley, My child. You are mine, and I am with you. Trust in Me.”

Photo courtesy: care2.com

Great men and women of the Bible had surely experienced fear at one point in their lives.  As they have come to know more and more about God, their fear turned into faith!  God knows them inside out including their fears.  God knows every bit of our fears as well.

So why is it so hard to trust the God whom He had given His all for us?  Why is it that we are afraid of an unknown future when God holds the future? Why is it sometimes when God speaks, we are afraid to listen?

Why? For we haven’t fully known God Himself.  That is why Jesus had to come down from heaven to reveal who God really is.  And more of that, Jesus had to come down to earth to save mankind from death eternal.

[Journal entry: April 15, 2012]

In Solitude and Prayer

Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.  But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

- Luke 5: 15-16

Despite the limelight, Jesus chose to be solitary.  Despite being as the crowd attraction, He chose to be alone and to commune with God through prayer.  After a day's work in His ministry, He never failed to pray to His Father in heaven; before the day started, He recharged His Spirit through prayer. He often did that -- being alone to pray.

Fear Not, God Cares

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Don’t be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows.

- Luke 12:7

Countless as it is, God knows the exact number of hairs that each person has.  He knows the very details of our lives.  He cares for us for we are worthy to Him.  We are worth more than anything.  Yes, we are.  God even gave His Son, Jesus to die for us!  That’s how worthy we are to Him.  The world sees our worth differently.  If one has power, fame, possession, and beauty, the world calls it worthy.  But God does not base our worthiness on those things.  He bases our worth and all of His creations on HIS LOVE.

Because God calls us to be worthy, He commands us not to be afraid.  Yes, it is a command.  We can face life without fear for He cares for us.  All we have to do is to come to Him, depend on Him, and trust Him that we are in His good hands.

I am worthy in the sight of God, and I am His precious one.  I need not to look at my self-worth on how the world perceives it rather on how God sees me.  I am worthy. I am being cared for.  I have a Father in heaven who watches the minute details of my life.

God commands not to be afraid; I should follow Him.  Only by the grace of God I am able to face life without fear.  I should not be troubled by what’s happening around me because God is in control.

[PRAYER]

Father God, thank You for putting worth in us.  Thank You that You care for us, mankind.  You are a Father who really cares and who really loves me.  Lord, teach me to trust in You and to submit to You all areas of my life.  Thank You, Lord, that I need not fear for You are there watching over me and even my household.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

[Journal entry: April 20, 2011]