Today, by Gary Rose

Today, I awoke early, about 6:30. I could see through the shades of my bedroom window, the very slightest hint of daylight. By the time I did my normal wake up routine and arrived at the dog-walk with my dog Pal, it must have been about 7:30 or so. About a half dozen other people had already arrived and as our dogs greeted one another we exchanged our greetings. Someone commented about the exceptional pink sunrise and a rainbow, which I had completely missed.

I thought: “Well, I missed that one” and promptly forgot about it. Afterwards, I went to FACEBOOK and saw that Nancy Womack had taken some pictures of the event. To my surprise, I learned that the rainbow had morphed into a double one.

Then I thought about what might be in store for me the rest of the day. What would I do, what surprises might I encounter, where would I place my priorities?

The answer for today was found in the book of Hebrews..

Today, Let me remember Jesus, THE SON OF GOD

Hebrews 1 (World English Bible)

 ¹ God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,  ² has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds.  ³ His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purified us of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;  ⁴ having become so much better than the angels, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they have.  ⁵ For to which of the angels did he say at any time, 
“You are my Son.
Today have I become your father?” (empahsis added)

and again, 
“I will be to him a Father,
and he will be to me a Son?”

  ⁶  When he again brings in the firstborn into the world he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him.”  ⁷ Of the angels he says, 
“Who makes his angels winds,
and his servants a flame of fire.”

  ⁸  But of the Son he says, 
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom.

Jesus is not just “another” person, HE is the son of Almighty God! He was and is and has always been God. The father sent him to Earth to save me, and that is a very personal gift. Today, let me appreciate that fact and try to live up to the name “Christian”. If I fail, Jesus will lift me up and help me to be everything he wants me to be!!!

Today, Let me truly LISTEN TO JESUS

Hebrews 3 (WEB)

  ¹ Therefore, holy brothers, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Jesus;  ² who was faithful to him who appointed him, as also was Moses in all his house.  ³ For he has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, because he who built the house has more honor than the house.  ⁴ For every house is built by someone; but he who built all things is God.  ⁵ Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were afterward to be spoken,  ⁶ but Christ is faithful as a Son over his house; whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the glorying of our hope firm to the end. ⁷ Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, 
“Today if you will hear his voice,
  ⁸ don’t harden your hearts, as in the rebellion,
like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness, (emphasis added)
  ⁹ where your fathers tested me by proving me,
and saw my works for forty years.
  ¹⁰ Therefore I was displeased with that generation,
and said, ‘They always err in their heart,
but they didn’t know my ways;’
  ¹¹ as I swore in my wrath,
‘They will not enter into my rest.’”*

We all do what we like, when and where we want to (within limits, of course). But when God speaks to me through his word, do I really listen, or do I just go through the motions of listening? Do I take his word seriously, or do ignore it? Worse that this, do I outright refuse to do what I know God wants me to do? Good question! May God help me to have a receptive heart and respectful attitude that leads to obedience!!

Today, Let me be FAITHFUL LIKE JESUS

Hebrews 13 (WEB)

 ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  ⁹ Don’t be carried away by various and strange teachings, (emphasis added) for it is good that the heart be established by grace, not by food, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited. 

Today, help me to be faithful to God in all things. The world has so many ways of influencing me that I must be careful to select what I am exposed to. Many people, mediums of communication and ideas will come my way but first and foremost, I must listen to the most accurate source of truth- Jesus. His truth, His way and only his way is safe. Help me to remember this and be faithful!!!

Today, make Jesus the center of your life and really listen to him and obey his word and live. This applies not only to me, but to everyone who reads these words.

Your friend,

Gary