Tag: heaven

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions: December 31, 2014

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is Revelation chapter 22

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

Jesus said, “Behold, I am coming soon.” The book of Revelation closes with a promise that Jesus is coming again. The return of Christ should motivate us to be faithful to the Lord. It should also motivate us to tell others about Christ and how they can be saved. In the second coming there is a promise of heaven. Knowing that we are going to live in heaven someday ought to make a difference in our lives today. The thought of heaven invokes in us a greater ambition for purity. It invokes an attitude of endurance knowing that one day our struggle with sin will be over. The second coming should inspire God’s church to a greater commitment to missions and evangelism. God knows of our suffering, service, and sacrifice. Whatever we do for the Lord will not be in vain. God will richly reward our labor. The Revelation not only concludes with a promise, but also it closes with an invitation. Verse 17 says, “Let him who is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” The great invitation Jesus gave was, “Come unto Me.” He invites sinners to come and have their sins forgiven, burdens lifted, and their tired souls rested. He says, “Surely I come quickly.” And the church says, “Amen. Even so, Come, Lord Jesus.”

Prayer: “Precious Lord Jesus, we are looking and praying for Your return. May the truth of heaven and Your return motivate Your church to a greater commitment to missions and evangelism. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions: December 30, 2014

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is Revelation chapter 21

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

Jesus said, “Behold, I make all things new.” God has promised to create a new heaven and a new earth. Old things will pass away. There will be no more sorrow. All tears shall be wiped away. There will be no more sickness. All disease and death will be no more. There will be no more sadness. All these things will be gone forever. There will be no more sin. Everything is made new! Those who are saved will live in a new and glorified state in this new creation forever. There will be a new city. It is the holy city, New Jerusalem the city of God descending out of heaven. Warren Wiersbe writes of this city, “The eternal city is not only the home of the bride; it is the bride! A city is not buildings; it is people.” The city of God is a perfect city. Unlike the major cities of this world the city of God is a holy place. It is also the dwelling place of God. In the Old Testament God dwelt in the Temple. In the New Testament God dwells in His church. In eternity God will dwell with His people in the holy city. The heavenly city is a real place, just as real as where you live. It is a prepared place for a prepared people. The most pertinent question ever asked is, “Do you know for certain that when you die you will go to heaven?”

Prayer: “Lord Jesus, we long for the day when the heavenly city shall come down out of heaven adorned as the bride of Christ, and You make all things new. For the glory of Jesus we pray. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions: December 5, 2014

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is Revelation chapter 4

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

The throne in heaven is occupied! John saw in heaven the throne of God and he saw Jesus sitting upon it. The word “throne” is mentioned twelve times in chapter four. Around the throne John saw a rainbow. God gave us the rainbow as a sign of His promise. It is a symbol of grace and hope. Through the blood of Jesus Christ we have been invited to come boldly before the throne of grace to obtain mercy in our time of need. We don’t don’t have to be reluctant or hesitant, we have been given access to God’s throne. At the throne there is such splendor that we stand in awe of God’s Presence! The creatures at the throne cry out “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” And the worshipers respond, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Let us join the heavenly host in the worship of our God who is sitting upon His throne.

Prayer: “Dear Father, we thank You for the privilege of entering Your Presence through the blood of Jesus Christ. We enter that we might bless Your name and join the heavenly host in giving praise to You. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is John chapter 7

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

Jesus said, “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” He spoke these words with passion. His heart yearned and longed for the spiritually impoverished people to turn to Him for life and satisfaction. They were searching in all the wrong places for hope and happiness. He not only spoke these words with passion but also He spoke them prophetically. His words were a fulfillment of the scripture. Not only were His words prophetic, but also they were a promise. He was describing the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit lives in us and gives us life! The witness of God’s Spirit flows from our lives like a river when we belong to God. This is true because God promised it to us.

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, our souls are thirsty, we come to You that we may experience Your Holy Spirit flowing like a river from our lives. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Devotions

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is John chapter 6

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

Jesus took a few loves and fishes and fed the five-thousand. His miracle gave way to His message. He claimed to be the bread of God come down from heaven to give life to the world. He said, “I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger.” Jesus said, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” Jesus promised eternal life to those who accepted and experienced Him as the heavenly bread. He said, “He that eats of this bread shall live forever.” When Jesus gave this truth there were many who turned away. Jesus asked His twelve disciples, “Will you also go away?” Simon Peter answered, “To Whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Prayer: “Dear Father, You gave us Jesus, the Bread of life, heavenly Manna, our Savior. He satisfies our hungry souls.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is John chapter 3

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

There are sixty-nine books in the Bible. The Bible has one thousand, one hundred and eighty- nine chapters. There are thirty one thousand, one hundred and two verses in the Bible, but none sweeter than John 3:16! There are some numbers that remind me of certain things and that are special. When I see the numbers 1126 I immediately think of my wife because we were married on November 26. No matter if it is a clock or a calendar or wherever it is some numbers just stand out. When I see the number 828 I always think of Romans 8:28 “all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose.” There are not many numbers that quite stand out like 3:16. This one verse really sums up the entire Bible in a single sentence. It is the Gospel in a verse. The Gospel declares God’s love for people. Someone taught me to read John 3:16 by placing my name in it. I encourage you to try it. God loves you and His purpose for your life is that you be saved. John 3:16 shows us how to be saved. It shows us that we are perishing because of our sin, and that the only remedy was for God to give His Son. Jesus paid the full penalty for your sin and if you will place your faith in Him you will live. That is why John 3:16 is the sweetest verse in all the Bible.

“Tell me the story of Jesus, write on my heart every word. Tell me the story most precious, sweetest that ever was heard.”

Randy J. McPheron