Knowing Who We Are and Whose We Are

Praise God who knew us before we were born and have chosen us to be the praise of the glory of His grace. What a high calling! He has made us alive who were dead in trespasses and sins, and raised us up together and made us sit together, both Jew and Gentile, in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Bible Reading: Ephesians Chapter 1

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. 

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth— in Him. 

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. 

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

(See also Ephesians Chapter 2 through Chapter 6.)

Our True Treasure of Joy and Rejoicing

Long-suffering God is righteous and just in all that He does. In Jeremiah Chapter 15, God declared a severe punishment on Judah. So much so, that He said, "Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My mind would not  be favorable toward this people. Cast them out of My sight, and let them go forth." (Jeremiah 15:1)

The prophet Jeremiah, a man called by God to speak His words to a rebellious people, found himself pleading with God for mercy. He lamented his own birth and desired deliverance from his persecutors.

He put God in remembrance of his faithfulness to the call of God upon His life. He said, "O Lord, You know; remember me and visit me, and take vengeance for me on my persecutors. In Your enduring patience, do not take me away. Know that for Your sake I have suffered rebuke. Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts." (Jeremiah 15:15 & 16)

The prophet also complained in His affliction: "For You have filled me with indignation. Why is my pain perpetual and my wound incurable, which refuses to be healed? Will You surely be to me like an unreliable stream, as waters that fail?"(Jeremiah 15:18)

In Jeremiah 15:19-20, God set forth conditions for Jeremiah to continue in right standing before Him, with promises of His divine presence and protection. He reinforced to the prophet his calling with words He spoke concerning his purpose and mission in life. (See also Chapter 1.)

Our faithful Savior who called us, has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. He is with us in our trials and tribulations, in our joys and in our sorrows.

The Lord God of hosts is our true treasure of joy and rejoicing! Feast on His word; trust and obey. Amen.

A Walk In The Garden Devotions
Hope & Encouragement for Life's Journey

Thursday Inspiration: Shine the Light of Jesus into a Dark World

Related Bible Reading: Matthew 5:14-16

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." 

Today's Devotion: What a Mighty God!

The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; 

by His knowledge the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down the dew.

(Proverbs 3:19-20)

Bless The Lord, O My Soul

Strength for Life's Journey

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More Than a Conqueror, Possessing the Promises of God Whose Possession We Are

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter:1-9)

After many great conquests by God's people led by Moses and Joshua (conquering entire lands and dispossessing mighty kings, and giving their lands as an inheritance to the children of God,) the Lord still had this to say to Joshua in his old age: "You are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed." (Joshua 13:1)

Caleb was forty years old when Moses (at the commandment of God) sent him and eleven others to spy out the land of Canaan. It was a good and fruitful land; the cities were fortified and very large, and giants (descendants of Anak) were there. Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." (Numbers 13:30) The men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we." (Numbers 13:31). They considered themselves grasshoppers in their own sight and in the sight of the giants. (Numbers 13:32 & 33)

Caleb at the age of eighty five and still strong, reminded Joshua of the promise Moses made to him concerning an inheritance he was to receive for wholly following the Lord. And so, Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb as an inheritance. (Joshua 14:6-15)

Arise faith and prayer warriors! Experience the power of God and the joy of His salvation from day to day. Take possession of all that Christ has wrought for us. He has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises. (2 Peter 1:3 & 4)

We have an eternal inheritance. Having believed the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation, we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:13 & 14)

Amen.

Happy Easter! Christ Is Risen Like He Said He Would

He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, "The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again." And they remembered His words. (Luke 24:6-8)

 Find Easter eCards at A Walk In The Garden Greetings

The Sin-Bearing Messiah

Jesus, God's sacrificial Lamb without blemish, died for our sins, to reconcile us back to God. Thank You Lord for Your mercy and grace!

Whosoever will may come; believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. Oh, how He loves you and me!

Related Bible Readings: John 3:16-21; Luke, Chapter 23; Colossians 1:20-23

Bible Verses About Love

A Godly Living Prayer

Visit the Prayer Garden

Daily Music of the Heart and Soul

Enjoy more music of the heart and soul:

The Lord who made the heavens and the earth is great and greatly to be praised!

Reasons to Rejoice

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever...

Speak to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs...

Bless the Lord God who made the heavens and the earth!

A Prayer for Today

Prayers to God, the Maker of our souls.

Evening Devotion: Loving Grace

There she was, a young Moabite woman refusing to go back to her  people and their gods. Instead, insisting to be with her mother-in-law Naomi, who had come to Moab from Bethlehem in Judah with her husband Elimelech and their two sons Mahlon and Chilion, because of famine in the land.

While living in Moab, Naomi's husband and two sons died.  Ruth was the wife of Mahlon and Orpah was the wife of Chilion.

Having heard that the Lord had provided aid for His people at home, Naomi prepared to return to Bethlehem with her two daughters-in-law, but she later urged them to return to their families. Orpah did, but Ruth said, "Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me." (Ruth 1:16-17)

So, they came to Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.  Ruth went out and gleaned in a field belonging to Boaz, who greeted his workers with "The Lord be with you" and they replied, "The Lord bless you." What a beautiful display of mutual love and rapport.between them!

Christians are workers in God's field, fellow laborers in His kingdom. More than servants, we are his friends. He equips, He guides, and He blesses the work of our hands. We can do nothing without Him. To Him, be glory, honor and praise—Bless the Lord, the One who owns our lives!

Upon seeing Ruth, Boaz inquired whose damsel she was. The servant who was set over the reapers answered him that she was the young Moabite woman who came back from Moab with Naomi.

Boaz talked to Ruth and told her to stay in his field, not to go to another and that he had charged the young men not to touch her. He said to work with the maidens in the field and to drink from the vessels of water when she became thirsty. Ruth was amazed at his generous hospitality towards her, a foreigner. She asked him why she had found grace in his eyes and he told her that he had full knowledge of her loyalty and the kindness she had shown to her mother-in-law and of her willingness to leave her own family and native land to come to a people she didn't know before..

At mealtime, Boaz invited Ruth to eat of the bread and to dip her morsel in the vinegar. As she sat with the reapers, he reached her parched corn and she ate and was satisfied with some left over. As she got up to glean in the field, he commanded the young men not to reproach her. He also commanded them to let some handfuls fall on purpose so that she could have them to glean.

In the evening, she related the day's events to Naomi who asked about where she had worked and who had been so generous. She then tells Ruth that Boaz is a close relative, a next kinsman.

Ruth gleaned until the end of barley harvest and wheat harvest. The barley harvest occurs in March-April; Nisan on the Jewish calendar and the wheat harvest in May-June; Sivan on the Jewish calendar. In Judaism, the Passover festival commemorates God's deliverance of His people from bondage in Egypt and is associated with the barley harvest. The Pentecost festival (also known as Feast of Weeks) is a celebration of the first-fruits of the wheat harvest with wave offerings and sacrifices to God. (Later came to commemorate the giving of the law to Moses by God on Mount Sinai.) All significant to the Christian faith in that Christ became the Passover Lamb and Jesus told His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father—The Holy Spirit descended on them and filled them on the Day of Pentecost. They were empowered to go out and preach the gospel with power, themselves being transformed. And to this day, the Great Commission continues.

Boaz eventually acquired all that was Elimelech's and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's from the hand of Naomi. He married Ruth who conceived and bore a son Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David, from whose lineage came the Son of God.

Bless Jesus, our faithful Redeemer and gracious Lord forever and ever! The One who brought us into the fold; the One whose steadfast love never ceases; whose mercies never end. The One who is kind and tenderhearted and protective of His sheep. The One who is still calling people from every nation and tongue into His kingdom. The One who makes Himself known in every generation and season of our lives. The One who draws near to the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. The One who intercedes for us. The One who gives us power. The One whose church is His bride. The One who is worthy to be praised, from the rising of the sun to its going down.  Amen.


A Walk In The Garden Devotions
Hope & Encouragement for Life's Journey

 

Today's Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1 & 2

Devotional Message: The Fruit of The Spirit

In the Christian life, as we walk in the Spirit, the sinful nature is put to death...

Devotional Message: Seasons of Transformation

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven...

Inspirational Sayings From Nature 
Discover a collection of garden quotes to warm the heart and soul at A Walk In The Garden Greetings..

Spring Greetings

For as the earth brings forth its bud, as the garden causes the things 
that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord God will cause righteousness 
and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

(Isaiah 61:11)