Psalm 89:15
Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.
Magic! No matter where the children were, they heard it. It called them from their homework, their play, their naps, their chores. In an instant, heads came up, slightly cocked, in order to hear the delicate chimes. The ice cream man! No greater sound could be found. From every corner of the neighborhood, children with beaming faces were drawn magically to the little wine cart, with its row of silver bells.
When the voice of the Lord calls out to us, may we respond to it with the same childlike glee that our youngsters demonstrate at the approach of the ice cream man. May the name of the Lord bring joy to our hearts and smiles to our faces.
Prayer:
Fill me with a joy that remains untouched by the trials of the day. When I hear Your name, Lord, let me respond in jubilation. Be the source of my comfort and peace. Amen. :pray:
Acts 20:27-32 (New King James Version)
| QUOTE |
27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God[a] which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified |
While visiting Jakarta, Indonesia, for a Bible conference, I was invited to speak in a church there. Before the first of two services that Sunday morning, one of the elders asked me to give him my Bible. He explained that the elders were responsible for the biblical reliability of the teaching the congregation received, and that he would return my Bible to me in front of the congregation. It was a tangible way of showing the church family that the leadership was entrusting the ministry of the Word to me on that day.
This practice was both sobering and encouraging. It reminded me that the privilege of presenting the truths of the Bible to people is not one to be taken lightly. It also was encouraging to see the degree to which these Indonesian elders took seriously their responsibility for the care of the flock.
In Acts 20, we read that Paul met with the elders of the church at Ephesus. In his charge to these leaders, the apostle warned them of the danger of false teachers (vv.28-29) and the responsibility of the church leadership to help the congregation grow in the Word of God (v.32).
No matter what our calling is, let’s handle the Word with care. When we do, God’s people will grow. —Bill Crowder
O God, in whom our trust we place,
We thank You for Your Word of grace;
Help us its precepts to obey,
Till we shall live in endless day. —Huss
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This devotional REALLY hit home for me today. B)
:thumbsup:
Yep, good one Honey-bunny~ B)