Sunday Writing... 11-25-18... "HARD TO BELIEVE"

Good morning,

Today's devotional is entitled, "HARD TO BELIEVE."  Some things are really hard for us to believe.  We read about one particular thing that gets harder to believe the older we get.  Today is Christ the King Sunday in some churches, the final Sunday in the church calendar.  Read below to find out more about this special day and how it applies to our lives.

Blessings,
Jan

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Today's Devotional: 

"HARD TO BELIEVE"

by

Jan Andersen

The passing of time over our life span is like a roll of toilet paper - the closer we get to the end of it, the faster it seems to roll!  We are fast approaching the end of yet another calendar year, one rolling right over to the next.  The end of one meets up with the next without even a pause.  It is hard to believe that we will soon be at the beginning of next year! 

Today for our church body it is the last Sunday of the church year, when we celebrate Christ the King Sunday.  It is to recognize that Jesus wasn’t just a servant, He was also a mighty king who will return.  For some that might be hard to believe.  Servant and King are opposite ends of a spectrum.  But Jesus, being both God and man (which is also a stumbling block for many), is certainly capable of it!  He came to serve, suffer and die, so that he might live, rise and reign in heaven.  That was also hard to believe for many.  They were expecting an earthly king to win battles and make them a great nation on earth.  Even the disciples found it hard to believe that Jesus came to serve and wanted to wash their feet as a lowly servant would.  They didn’t expect him to suffer so much and die so suddenly, leaving them seemingly alone.  It was so hard to believe!

Thankfully, God sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts so that we can believe and have faith in Him.  Jesus truly has risen from the dead and is preparing a place for us to be with him in heaven.  He also plans to come again to earth the same way he left, this time to judge the earth and bring those home to him who have remained faithful.  Not those who have lived a good life or done good things.  Although those can be signs of living in faith, they can also be done by nonbelievers.  Even God supplies us with our faith through the work of the Spirit.  All we have to do is not reject that free gift.  It doesn’t matter how bad we think we have been, or how recently we may have come to faith.  Jesus saves all believers, regardless of what we have done, given only by His grace.  Hard to believe?  Lord, help my unbelief! 

2 Timothy 1:9  God has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.  This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. 

Dear Lord and Savior, thank you for helping us to fully believe that we can be forgiven, no matter what our sins have been, and that we will join you in heaven one day if we remain faithful.  We look forward to being with you after we die or after your second coming, whichever happens first!  Help us to share this wonderful news with others so that they too may believe and receive your free gift of salvation.  In Your name we pray,  Amen.

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Song:

IN CHRIST ALONE

Brian Littrell

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Prayers are lifted up daily for you

 by the Devotional Writers and the Monthly Writing Staff

 of Women's Focus Ministries.

Blog Writers:

Jan Andersen, Sandy Billingham, Carol Steficek,   

 Brother Thomas Ukwute, Jody Ward,  Karen Bennett, 

Bre Miller, Cathy Friberg, and  Corinne Mustafa
Elizabeth McElderry, Betty Espindola,  Lynda Kinnard
Amie Spruiell, and Debbie Rodriguez

Occasional Contributors:

Kathy Bireley, Terri Baker, Beverley Napier,
 Kelly Dobyns, Glenna Williamson,  

Amie Spruiell, and Lisabeth Lipp.