Good day dear friends.
We continue to hold Juanita Ladish in our prayers. She is in the final stages of life and we pray for God's comfort be hers and her family in these days.
I ask prayers for two examination procedures that Nellie, my wife, is undergoing this afternoon.
As we continue to examine the Truth About Being a Christian here is today's study guide:
Thursday: Read Revelation 7:17. If the concept of what a shepherd does and is hasn’t become clear to you, realize that in this glimpse of Heaven there is a promise from God about what a shepherd will do and be. Read that passage with the knowledge of you’re wanting to be in that crowd when the shepherd does what he does. Ask God for faithfulness in your life towards God’s leading.
Here is that passage:
17 "for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
In the last book of the Bible it all ties together. The paradise relationship desired by God with us is completed. The image of He who would guide us during our time here is completed as we read in the above passage, with the awesomeness of He who was the Lamb is now the shepherd, "guiding us to springs of the water of life" and wiping "away every tear from (our) eyes."
The finality of all things, according to God's Word, is but the beginning of eternity. And from what is promised in the picture of eternity it's not a scary thing at all, in fact, it is the opposite; a desired presence with God where all our needs will be met. As the shepherd desire to guide and protect his flock to green pastures and springs of water, the book of Revelation closes it out by sharing this image.
While visiting with Juanita and her family present, we talked about grieving and mourning. While it is a very natural part of the healing process it is still a difficult one. We who have lost our moms talked about the places where it still hits us and we can't help but cry about the earthly loss we've suffered. The hurt is still real and with time becomes bearable, but does one ever truly on earth forget the presence of a dear loved one? The answer is no, but what bring healing and calm are the promises we find in our faith book, that God is a God of life and not of death. That in God we find eternal life lived in Him. Death is a part of a life lived in Christ that brings no end but passage into the realm of eternity. The shepherd who guides us here will guide us there. And as the Bible promises, that guidance will take us to springs of living water and a place where tears are no more.
PRAYER: Come, God of life to my life. Let me be guided by you even today into that path of life. Let me share words of life with those all around me. Help me to see all. Help me to love all. And when the day comes when I get invited home, guide me to the fullness of life without end. Be with those who are mourning and grieving even today. May the precious memories of those in Your presence stay with us and comfort us. We pray in the name of The Shepherd, Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
