Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Friday, December 25, 2015

Today’s Scripture Promise:

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9).

Today’s Observation:

Today’s promise is particularly delightful to me, because I despise slackness. Where I live in the Caribbean, the undesirable trait of slackness is often discussed. We consider how the road is maintained to be slack. We consider the fact that our currency as it stacks up against the U.S. dollar is as a result of governmental slackness. We had a massive public health issue due to Health Ministry slackness. I do not like slackness.

During this holiday season we recognize the fact that Jesus was not actually born in December. Yet we also know that His birth was so remarkable that it left an indelible impression upon societies the world over. The way most of the world reckons years on the calendar is based on the first coming, the birth of Jesus, more than 2,000 years ago. God gave the Hebrew prophets many promises, signs, and prophecies that the blessed Messiah would miraculously be born to a virgin, and would save His people from their sins. Jesus was born. God did keep His promise. He is saving people of faith from their sins.

It would be statistically impossible for one man, during one apparently insignificant event like being born, to perfectly fulfill hundreds of prophecies were he not the one of whom the prophets spoke. Jesus’ life, ministry, and mission did fulfill those prophecies all those years ago. And today we are awaiting another such startling fulfillment; a prophecy to top all prophecies. In John chapter 14, Jesus is recorded as having made the ultimate promise to His disciples. He said that although things were really rough for them at the time and they were discouraged, that they should not be troubled. They believed in God the Father and Jesus His Son. Jesus promised that He would go to heaven and prepare many mansions for them in His Father’s house. He promised that He would come again to take those who love Him there so we could forever be with the Lord. That’s a promise!

Some people in our days feel like Jesus is taking too long; that perhaps He will not come back. But the Bible says that He is not slack. He will keep His promise at just the right time. His apparent delay is due to the fact that He wants to wait for the moment in time that the most people possible will be saved. He does not want anyone to miss out on eternal life; therefore mercy still stretches forth her hands over the world to give you and me the opportunity to accept His blessed gift.

Today’s Marching Orders:

Since God is great at keeping His promises, why not make a promise to Him today? Why not vow that as long as He gives you strength, you will make yourself ready to receive His promised arrival with thanksgiving and be ready to live in absolute harmony with Him forever?—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)