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Paradise Restored
Read Revelation 22:1-9
“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb” (v. 1).
“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God” (Rev. 2:7). I can think of nothing more majestic or serene than crystal, refreshing, sparkling, pure water flowing through the grandiosity of elegantly crafted and adorned structures. I doubt anyone would dare criticize the beautiful Blue Danube drifting through Budapest, the River Seine through Paris, the Thames through London, or even the Central Canal running right through the Indiana Government Center in downtown Indianapolis.
Ah, the imagined bliss of the Garden of Eden, that with one wrong choice forever marred the spotless beauty of the paradise God had created for habitation. Although today we see His handiwork, despite the impediments resulting from the entrance of sin, we have the promise that our Creator has plans to restore the perfection of His creation for the enjoyment of those who partake of the abundant life possible through His Son, the Lamb. (RB Kuhn)
O Lord, your paradise awaits our entrance; the tree of life blooms full.
Your providence will guide us; someday we’ll rest by waters cool. — RB Kuhn
The idea of paradise is nothing new with the Creator. Don’t miss what He is preparing for you, dear child of God.
This devotional is taken from the Sunday, May 31, 2015 entry of Opening the Word.
Photo Credit: southern daydreamer on Pixabay.com
Christ’s Second Coming Prophesied
Read Matthew 24:36-41
“But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (v. 37).
I am appalled day after day as I observe the extent of human wickedness in our world. Regardless of the medium, news programs inundate us with the most disgusting, heartbreaking stories one can imagine. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9).
As I write this devotional, news stories include a teen-age girl who killed her brother, gunmen who killed twelve people in France, a father who threw his daughter off a bridge, a celebrity being charged with fraud, a porn star and a lesbian couple in the spotlight, and on and on. One almost feels the need to take a brain shower after the daily dose of headlines to say nothing of the in-depth stories. We read that in the days of Noah, “God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5).
I believe we have cycled back to the condition in this world that brought God to the decision to wipe man off the face of the earth. This time He will be setting events in motion for the closing of this era permanently with the greatest event being the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. (Harold Carpenter)
All the earth is groaning, crying for that day of sweet release,
For our Jesus to come back to earth again. — James M. Kirk
Focus on the up-look rather than the out-look.
This devotional is the Monday, May 18, 2015 entry of Opening the Word.
Photo Credit: pixabay.com
The Second Coming of Christ
Lesson 13 - May 24
Focus Text: Mark 13:24-37
Central Truth: Believers must be prepared at all times for Christ’s return.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to give scriptural evidence of the Second Coming of Christ and list ways to be prepared.
Lesson Outline:
- Watch for Significant Signs (Mark 13:24-27)
- Trust Christ's Sure Word (Mark 13:28-31)
- Be Sure to Stay Awake (Mark 13:32-37)
Satan
Lesson 12 - March 17
Focus Text: Job 1:6-12; John 8:42-44; Revelation 20:1-3
Central Truth: The Christian faces a powerful, but defeated foe.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to clearly describe Satan’s powers and limits.
Lesson Outline:
- Satan's Limitations (Job 1:6-12)
- Satan's Nature (John 8:42-44)
- Satan's Defeat (Revelation 20:1-3)
Companionship in Marriage
Read Genesis 24:61-67
“And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death” (v. 67).
It was a sort of live couple’s reality show before reality television was a fad. When I was a teen, to entertain at a party, some well-known dating couples were chosen. One member of the couple was sent out of the room, and the other person was asked questions about their missing boyfriend or girlfriend. Then the missing person was brought in to see if their significant other answered correctly.
Perhaps you and your spouse-to-be got to know each other very well while you were dating. But have you ever considered what kinds of things would keep you from cultivating your relationship after you are married?
Sometimes, life just plain gets in the way. He works nights and you work days. Kids add to the chaos, and you can hardly keep track of yourself, let alone a busy spouse.
Maybe you let a wound or misunderstanding grow and fester, but is the silent, pouty treatment really the best way to improve communication and get to know each other better?
Perhaps it is a hobby that interferes. Maybe you have trouble putting down the newspaper or your Facebook feed long enough to talk about things that matter.
It is important to watch for weeds that want to choke out our communication and companionship in marriage. (ASE)
Companionship is a blessing that should not be taken for granted.
This devotional is the Friday, May 8, 2015 entry from Opening the Word.
God's Plan for Marriage
Lesson 11 - May 10, 2015
Focus Text: Genesis 2:18-24; Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Peter 3:5, 6
Central Truth: God has ordained marriage to be a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should commit to uphold and promote the biblical values of marriage.
Lesson Outline:
- The Purpose of Marriage (Genesis 2:18-24)
- The Principle of Marriage (Ephesians 5:22-33)
- The Practice of Marriage (1 Peter 3:5-6)