Sue O’Donnell. 14.02.17
“For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these things, to make Your servant know them.” (2 Samuel 7 v 21)
Look heavenwards, this is homewards.
Think of the Lord Jesus,
All the grace and favour He won for us.
Meditate upon the † of our salvation.
Wonder at the merciful works of redemption.
Think of heaven and think of fulfilment,
That which can only be heaven sent, meant for our benefit!
For all our Father meant
In sending the Messiah Jesus to us,
Is a gift of pure loving mercy.
“ ‘Therefore You are great, O Lord GOD. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears’.” (2 Samuel 2 v 22)
A gift lasting through to eternity.
We will live in heaven profoundly happy,
In the unity of Father, Son and Spirit,
Whereby we enter the fullness of holiness,
A most wondrous, blessed, joyous state.
So for now, make ready, make ready!
Hope for death to be timely and happy,
A beginning not a disaster, not an ending.
For then God will be sending His beloved Son,
Whereupon we can be accompanied home.
“ ‘We give thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned’.” (Revelation 11 v 17)
“ ‘The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants, the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name small and great ...’.” (Revelation 11 v 18)
Lord, all Your words are true and You have promised Your goodness will last into eternity. Thank You for this incredible blessing come about in Jesus. “Let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.” (2 Samuel 22 v 29)
Father, it is a righteous wrath You momentarily pour upon us. But in Your mercy, You temper judgment with mercy and gift us Jesus as Redeemer.
How can we ever sufficiently praise and thank You, except to meditate upon the profound implications of Christian death?
As our Provider and Protector You will that nothing evil will befall us. Death is a blot on the landscape, but You grant us hope in the love of Jesus, thank You.
Clearly He is the resurrection and the new life, full life, the life we are so richly blessed to one day share in heaven.
“We are not our own, for we were bought at a price” (based on 1 Corinthians 6 v 20) of holy sacrifice and are therefore called to “Glorify You in our body and spirit, which belong to You,” (Cont) dearest Father.
Now clearly the body perishes, but the spirit lives on into eternity. May none of us be lost to the heaven which Jesus promises awaits us.
Let us spend eternity honouring, praising, offering thanks for the fullness of happiness, as we become redeemed brothers and sisters of the Lord Jesus, purchased by His precious blood.
“ ‘And who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth You want to redeem for Yourself as a people,...’” (2 Samuel 7 v 23) but then extended the mercy to all believers in Jesus.
“...great and awesome deeds...” (Cont) are Your hallmark, our highly blessed inheritance and hope of heaven through our redemption. “Let Your name be magnified forever, saying ‘The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel” (v 26) over us, that one day we will live in heaven forever, praise be! Amen.
Images by Artist Christine Garwood
http://www.christinegarwoodartist.co.uk/
Season
Key Themes
MERCY
GIFT
