Do you Desire Heaven or Something Else?
Good Morning Friends,
Do not be troubled even though life is hard. Be confident in His word and believe that God is going to transform our earthly bodies as He did His own, putting everything right. We too in a way can ascend to heaven, even now. So keep focused on the reality that there is far more to life for us in heaven and that heaven is closer than we might think. The key is to not measure it by miles or positioning but in our desires. We need not strain our spirit in all directions to reach heaven, for when we love we are there already. Do you Desire Heaven or Something Else?
Scripture:
20But our citizenship* is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:20 (NRSV)
14’Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe* in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?*
3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4And you know the way to the place where I am going.’*
5Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ 6Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you know me, you will know* my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’
John 14:1-7 (NRSV)
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4 (NRSV)
Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you.
Psalm 73:25 (NRSV)
14Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy.
1 Corinthians 14:1 (NRSV)
16Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great: He* was revealed in flesh, vindicated* in spirit,* seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory.
1 Timothy 3:16 (NRSV)
Message: There are a multitude of Hebrew words that translate as “desire.” And that is understandable for the word “desire” covers a wide range of human wants, emotions, and cravings. It can describe natural desires, which include hunger for food, sexual longings, and desire for God. The latter is the focus of today’s devotional and how this desire is caught up with our hope, belief and expectation about meeting our Savior in heaven. You see, are to reach out for heaven even now. We have always longed for such a place. We have always, in our souls, felt that such a place exists. Jesus even tells us that it exists. So be ready to go there… for even now Jesus is leading you through your responsibilities and rough edges of life toward a place that is being made ready for us. We are to trust…trust in the presence, promises and person of Jesus. He will restore us… He will redeem us He will bring us real reunion with the peace of Christ found in the Father….the piece of Christ’s peace found in us.
Pray that we not get lost, that we not go astray, that we respond to the invitation to the way, the truth and the life of Jesus. Pray in the Spirit that we place our trust and treasurer in Him. Pray that He would come into our lives today as we reach out for heaven. Pray that we believe that He will take our hands and lead us to His Father’s house in Heaven….forever. Pray we seek communion with God because God desires unity with us. Pray we think, speak and act in a way that demonstrates our desire for God.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 