Category: In His Heart Forever

John 10:16 (NIV)
¹⁶ I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

“God made the world so that his Son’s heart had an outlet … Picture a dammed-up river, pent up, engorged, ready to burst forth—that is the kindness in the heart of Christ. He is infinitely benevolent, and human history is his opportunity to ‘open and pour forth all that immense fountain of condescension, love, and grace.’”
(Ortlund, Dane. Gentle and Lowly, 207)

2 Corinthians 5:18b-20 (NLT)
^18b And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. ¹⁹ For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. ²⁰ So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

Prayer: Almighty God, empower us as your bride to be the expression of your lavish love to this world. And we pray that your children not yet with us would come home. In Jesus name, amen.

Let’s worship and sing to “Unwavering” sung by Matt Maher (click here).

̶  JJP

Ephesians 2:1-2, 4-5a, 7 (NLT)
¹ Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. ² You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world … ⁴ But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, ⁵ that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead … ⁷ So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

“’But God’ … these two words signal a reversal, that something is shifting. God is saying, ‘Hold on, humanity, I’m in charge here, your stories are not over.’ Sometimes we forget who God is and what he’s already done in our lives. When trouble comes, we have a tendency to freak out and our identity is shaken. But God is so rich in love and mercy, his response is to pour out more of his grace in our lives. So, when circumstances shake us or make us uncomfortable, it’s always for his good plans to help us grow. It showcases his power.” (Adapted from Pastor Tim Platz’s message)

Prayer: Our Good Shepherd, when circumstances change, may we remember that you are always in charge. Help us to trust that your hand is always working to help us to grow. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship and sing to “Faith to Believe” sung by Shane & Shane (click here).

̶  JJP

Matthew 11:28-29 (NLT)
²⁸ Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

“Go to him. All that means is, open yourself up to him. Let him love you. The Christian life boils down to two steps:

1. Go to Jesus.
2. See #1.

Whatever is crumbling all around you in your life, wherever you feel stuck, this remains, un-deflectable: his heart for you, the real you, is gentle and lowly. So go to him. That place in your life where you feel most defeated, he is there; he lives there, right there, and his heart for you, not on the other side of it but in that darkness, is gentle and lowly.”
(Ortlund, Dane. Gentle and Lowly, 216)

Our Savior is gentle and humble yet omnipotent and in control. How comforting that this is the One who invites us to bring all of life’s weariness and burdens to him. He will not only pour out his love upon us but he promises to give us his rest. So, let us approach him, laying our weariness and burdens before him.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for inviting us to come to you. We bring the whole of our lives before you to experience your love and your rest. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship and sing to “Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace)” sung by Hillsong Worship (click here).

̶  JJP

John 13:1 (NIV)
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

Ephesians 3:17b-19 (NIV)
^17b And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

“Christ loved his own all the way through death itself. What must that mean for you? … He will love you to the end because he cannot bear to do otherwise. No exit strategy. No prenup. He’ll love to the end—’to the end of their lives, to the end of their sins, to the end of their temptations, to the end of their fears.’”
(Ortlund, Dane. Gentle and Lowly, 204)

Jesus’ love is unwavering and complete, and the cross is the evidence of that. This is the love that we respond to. As the Spirit assures of his love once again, may our “yes” to what he is calling our churches grow to be more pure and enthusiastic.

Prayer: Lord, there is no other way to respond, but with a wholehearted yes with our lives. We gladly surrender our lives to your calling once again. In Jesus name, amen.

Let’s worship and sing to “Yes Again” sung by Darlene Zschech with Mitch Wong (click here).

– JJP