God assures each of us that we are His favorite child,...

You Are God's Favorite

by Joyce Meyer - posted February 13, 2017

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. 
—Psalm 17:8

What does it mean to be a favorite? It means to be particularly favored, esteemed, and preferred. It means to enjoy special attention, personal affection, and preferential treatment, even without being deserving of it. There is nothing about you or me or anyone else that can cause us to become God's favorite. He chooses us for that place of honor and esteem by an act of His sovereign grace. All we can do is receive His gracious gift in an attitude of thanksgiving and humility.

Now when I talk about being the favorite of God, I must make something clear. Because God is God of all His creation, and because He has a personal relationship with each one of His children, He can say to every single one of us at the same time, and sincerely mean it, "You are the apple of My eye; you are My favorite child." 

It took a while for me to come to understand that truth. In fact, at first I was afraid to believe it. It was hard for me to imagine myself as God's favorite, even though that is what He was telling me I was.

But then I began to realize that it is what He tells each of His children. He wants to say it to anyone who will believe it, accept it, and walk in it. God assures each of us that we are His favorite child, because He wants us to be secure in who we are in Christ Jesus so that we will have the confidence and assurance we need to walk victoriously through this life drawing others to share with us in His marvelous grace.

The Seed of the Word

By Joel Osteen – Posted February 13, 2017

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop."
Luke 8:15, NIV

TODAY'S WORD:

Sometimes in the natural, we don’t see how God’s promises are going to come to pass. It may seem like there are so many obstacles to overcome. But God’s Word is like a seed. When it’s planted in our hearts and we water it by thinking the right thoughts and expecting good things, that little seed begins to grow into something much, much greater.

Jesus told a parable in Mark, chapter four. He said that God’s Word is like a tiny mustard seed. When it is sown, it is less than all the other seeds, one of the smallest. But when it grows up, it becomes greater than all. Notice it goes from being less than all to being greater than all.

Are you in an overwhelming situation today, maybe in your health, finances or relationships? Does God’s promise seem small compared to what you’re facing?

Don’t sit back and think, “Man, it’s never going to get any better. It’s never going to change.” Instead, sow the Word by speaking it every single day. Water that seed by staying in faith because the seed of the Word has supernatural power in it. It will grow and flourish, and you will see God’s promises come to pass all the days of your life!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

"Father God, today I choose to sow the Word of God! Thank You that it will not return void, but it will accomplish what it was sent forth to do! Thank You for giving every good and perfect gift to Your children. I bless Your holy name today and always. In Jesus’ Name. Amen."

DISCERNING THE LORD’S BODY

By Joseph Prince – Posted February 13, 2017

1 Corinthians 11:24

and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you remembrance of Me.”

Have you ever taken a close look at the Matzah bread that the Jews eat during their Passover meal? The bread, which is unleavened, is pierced with rows of little holes forming stripes. It is also slightly burnt. Many churches today use this bread for the Holy Communion.

Do you know why the bread is pierced, striped and burnt?

My friend, the bread that you hold in your hands when you partake of the Lord’s Supper speaks of the body of our Lord Jesus Christ when He bore our sins and sicknesses on the cross.

Like the bread, He was pierced in His brow by the crown of thorns as well as in His hands and feet by the nails. He was also pierced in His side by a soldier’s spear. The prophet Isaiah says, “He was pierced for our transgressions…” (Isaiah 53:5, NIV)

Like the bread, He was scourged on His back until His flesh was all torn and bloody, and His bones were exposed, so that today, you can say, “By His stripes I am healed!” (Isaiah 53:5)

What about the burnt marks on the bread? The full fire of God’s wrath fell on Jesus, burning up our sins into ashes, and at the same time, bringing out the fragrance of the offering of Jesus. Today, your sins and lawless deeds are but ashes, and your Father in heaven remembers them no more! (Hebrews 8:12)

So the next time you partake of the bread during the Holy Communion, know that Jesus was pierced for your sins and scourged for your healing. He bore God’s fiery judgment so that you will never be judged for your sins! He also bore your diseases and carried your pains so that you can walk in divine health!

When you discern these precious truths about our Lord’s body, you are partaking of the Holy Communion in a worthy manner. And you will not be weak and sickly, nor die before your time. (1 Corinthians 11:27–30) No, you will be strong and healthy, and you will live long!

Thought For The Day

Jesus was pierced for your sins and scourged for your healing so that you can walk in divine health!

Welcome Home

By DR. David Jeremiah - February 13, 2017

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness
1 John 1:9

Recommended Reading: Psalm 32:3-5

The Dutch Master painter Rembrandt van Rijn completed one of his most famous works shortly before he died in 1669. His painting, The Return of the Prodigal Son, is based on Jesus’ parable about the wastrel son who squandered his inheritance but was forgiven and welcomed home in spite of his rebellion (Luke 15:11-32).

The parable of the Prodigal Son has many applications. It was about God’s passion for seeking and saving the lost (Luke 19:10). It was about the hypocrisy of the Jewish religious leaders as portrayed by the prodigal’s older brother (Luke 15:25-30). It was about God’s desire for lost Israel to return to Him (Luke 15:31). But most of all it was about the love of God—the welcoming and unconditional love of God—as portrayed by the prodigal’s father. In this story, the prodigal son did everything wrong and nothing right. Yet his father heaped forgiveness and love upon the son when he returned home after coming to his senses. That is the true love of God.

Never doubt God’s welcoming and unconditional love for you. If you will return to Him, He will be faithful to forgive you and cleanse you and embrace you.

The way to cover our sin is to uncover it by confession. 
Richard Sibbes

 Read-Thru-the-Bible: Numbers 14 - 15