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PRAYER FOR TODAY
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Wednesday September 18 - Don’t delay!
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews 4:7
Our mail often comes with adverts, urging us to buy something today or lose out! But we know the offer will probably come again tomorrow!
When we receive God’s ‘mail’ – his Bible words – we must show faith in action! Today God says “do not harden your hearts”; trust in Jesus and enter the deep and everlasting ‘soul rest’ prepared for you in his kingdom of forgiveness, love and holiness. He is insistent; this offer is too precious to miss!
From the Israelites onwards God has been calling his people back home – and it’s our certain hope too, today and forever, through our precious Lord Jesus! There’s no ‘tomorrow’ wiggle-room; as one old pastor said, “the Lord doesn’t promise us an earthly tomorrow – we must trust our whole life and future life to him, today”!
Let’s rejoice again today in the incredible blessing of Jesus’ love and salvation; knowing and trusting that nothing can snatch us from his ever-loving hands!
If you’ve picked up Living Light today and are not a Christian, but hear God calling you to Jesus, then don’t delay. Ask him for a softened heart to believe Jesus died for your sins – repent of them and receive the forgiveness he offers right now! Find a Christian pastor, and tell them!
Father, please soften my heart! Deepen my trust in your steadfast love and holiness, as you keep me following Jesus. Amen.
Thursday September 19 - Sabbath-rest in Jesus There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God... Hebrews 4:9
Kew Gardens always reminds me of the beautiful relationship that existed between God and his first created people in the Garden of Eden: the colours, scents, abundant food... and Father God himself walking and talking with them, ‘in the cool of the day’ (Genesis 3:8). How beautiful!
God created his universe, then stopped, and proclaimed a ‘Sabbath-rest’ day; blessed and holy (Exodus 20:11). His work was perfect and finished! His people’s lived experience thereafter would be enjoying God’s love, joy, peace, and holy Sabbath-rest.
Then, suddenly, the tragedy of sin – separation from God’s presence; a life of thorns, thistles, hard labour, and something else: death... and then a return to dust.
God’s divine foreknowledge means the way back into the ‘Sabbath-rest’ of his presence was already perfectly prepared – to be fulfilled through God’s precious Son, our glorious Lord Jesus, ‘Lord of the Sabbath’ (Matthew 12:8)!
Our Sunday worship today echoes the ‘Sabbath rhythm’ of ‘work and rest’ (Exodus 20:8) which centred the Hebrews’ lives and worship on God’s rule, and foreshadowed the full return of ‘Sabbath-rest’ in his everlasting kingdom. Jesus willingly became our way back into God’s ‘Sabbath-rest’, his dying breath on the cross proclaiming God’s salvation plan fulfilled: “It is finished!”
Glorious Lord Jesus, thank you for your great sacrifice, and my share in your joy, peace and abundant grace, now and eternally! Please rest my restless heart in you today. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY