I think we have all seen the basketball game with the half court shot at the buzzer that wins the game, or the “walk-off” home run in the crucial baseball game, or the seemingly impossible kick to win the soccer match, and the thousands of spectators in the stadium jump to their feet and cheer.

This is the image I envision when reading Luke 15:7, “..there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!”

I can see the saints and angels jumping to their feet and cheering when someone who has rejected Jesus for years, drops his or her resistance and accepts Salvation.

Dear Lord, it is amazing to know that those in heaven cheer for the salvation of those on earth. Help us remember to do our part in helping those who are lost become saved. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Luke 13:10-13 “On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God!”

Upon reading this text, it made me wonder, “How do we determine if physical problem is caused by an evil spirit or is an illness is with a different cause?” After studying the Bible to learn the answer this question, I thought, “Does it matter, the cause of the ailment?” What matters is that God is the cure.

When we or others face ailments, our hope should be in God for relief, cure or restoration. There is nothing, including death, that is beyond his power.

Dear Lord, You have power over all. No sickness, malady, or demon is beyond your control. Help us remember to put our faith and hope in your saving and restoring power. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off of your goal.” Henry Ford

When we have ourselves focused clearly on our goals with determination to achieve them, we tend to ignore or not even see obstacles and challenges that arise along the way.

Paul describes how this was demonstrated clearly by Jesus, as a lesson for us.

Hebrews 12:1,2 he writes, “…And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.”

Jesus is what we need to focus on as we run this race toward our eternal salvation. Just as he focused on the goal of concurring death and returning to Glory with God in heaven, he endured being shamed and crucified in order to accomplish his race, we can endure the challenges and obstacles to maintaining our faith and doing God’s will, by keeping our focus on our goal; The goal of eternal life in heaven.

Dear Lord, as you said, You established the principles for our success thousands of years ago, showing us the importance of focusing on our goal to overcome our obstacles. Help us do this and run our race toward salvation, with faith and obedience. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Hebrews 11:1 writes, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” KJV

The NLT translation writes it as, “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.”

So faith is not just a wish, or feeling, it is “substance” The RSV translation uses the word “assurance”. When we have faith in God’s promises, we can “take it to the bank.” It is reality waiting to materialize.

This relates not just to the promise of eternal Salvation, but to all the promises we are given in the Bible. Promises of God’s presence, protection, guidance and abundance.

Where does this faith come from? Romans 11:17 tells us, “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.”

Get faith, have assurance.

Dear Lord, give us this faith in your promises, so that with this faith we can live with confident assurance on earth and eternally. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

I think there are many people who were either brought up Christian, or had been practicing Christians, but went astray and got into activities and lifestyles that they know were wrong.

When they consider returning to practicing their faith, they don’t believe that they could be accepted back, because of the things they have done. Additionally, the Devil, who is also called the “accuser of the brethren” in the Bible, puts thoughts of unworthiness in their minds.

Many, if not most, of the people God uses, to tell his story in the Bible, had flawed characters in their past but became leaders and teachers of his message. From Abraham, who distrusted God’s promise for a child, and chose to have a child with a servant, to Jacob who deceived his father into giving him his brother’s inheritance, to David who had Bathsheba’s husband killed so he could marry her, to Paul who persecuted the Christians, and Peter who denied knowing Jesus, and many others; God used people like this to show future generations, like us, that no one is un-forgivable.

Paul writes in 1 Timothy 1:15-16, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.”

So if you feel un-forgivable, or you know someone who may feel this way, remember it only takes a moment to accept the gift of forgiveness God gave us through Jesus Christ.

Dear Lord, your grace is so amazing, that no one is beyond your love and the opportunity for forgiveness. Help us remember this for ourselves, and share the peace that comes from this knowledge, with others. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.