Security and Significance

 

Security and Significance By Joni Eareckson Tada “God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’” Acts 17:27-28 A woman recently asked me, “Joni, you seem so confident. Have you always been that way?” Inwardly I smiled. If she only knew the knots I feel in my stomach before I speak to a crowd, or the times I’m scared stiff to sit in front of a blank canvas with a paintbrush. It is called insecurity and, for me, it started in my early scramble to keep up with three older, more athletic sisters. As a four-year-old, I would cling to the saddle horn as my sixteen-hands-high horse galloped behind the steeds of my sisters. I didn’t dare tell them how scared I was! My life journey has been to put aside those insecurities. My wheelchair has helped. At first, it made me feel more insecure, but over the years God has used the chair to force me to sit still, quit competing, and be quiet before him. That was all I needed! People are only as secure as the source of their security; if we are secure in Christ, then we have every reason to be confident. Christian psychologists say that good mental health springs from two things: security and significance. Security in who we are and significance in what we do. Since Christ is the source of peace, joy, strength, and rest, and in him we live and move and have our very being, we can be secure and feel significant when we place our trust in Jesus. Lord, there are so many times when I feel afraid and insecure. Today I recognize that in you I live, move, and have my being—my life is secure and significant because I am your child and your servant. Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up to get Joni’s Daily Devotional delivered to your own email inbox each morning. CLICK HERE!

 

Final Warning

 

Final Warning Continuing the study of Revelation on Thursdays REVELATION 14.6 I saw an angel flying in mid heaven, having an eternal Good News to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 14.7 He said with a loud voice, “Fear the Lord, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!” 14.8 Another, a second angel, followed, saying, “Babylon the great has fallen, which has made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality.” 14.9 Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead, or on his hand, 14.10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. 14.11 They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name. 14.13 I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.” -WEB Bible.  Three angels have a message of Hope as well as messages of Warning. They announce that there's still a slim opportunity remaining, but there's no time left for delay. Procrastination is the worst you can do: the time to repent before the Lord Jesus Christ is NOW. You don't want to be on earth when God's angels pour out the full, potent, undiluted fury of God’s wrath. I don’t know how these warnings will actually be given to the people of earth, but God shows us in this passage that He will offer help and hope at every stage of the Tribulation. God is faithful, even when people are faithless. Image Credit: The Bamberg Apocalypse is an 11th century richly illuminated manuscript containing the Book of Revelation and other scripture passages. Next Thursday: Lord of the Harvest