And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
At the beginning of this year, we eagerly anticipated what the new year would bring. We are now half way through the year and many have lost their jobs, the cost of living has gone way up, and some are struggling emotionally, physically, and financially just to make it through each day. In these times, our trust in the Lord has been our anchor. Let us lift our voices in praise, for we worship the God of restoration! Through His boundless grace we are reminded that despite challenges or suffering, God promises to restore and complete us.
The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness”.
God ‘s love was established since the beginning of time and will continue forever. It is not a temporary love but one that endures from generation to generation. God confirms His love for us daily as He forgives, protects, provides, heals, and demonstrates His continued grace, mercy, and power in our lives. God’s magnificent love is sovereign, unchangeable, and everlasting; nothing can ever separate us from His great love for us. God’s love is life-changing when you begin to believe that He loves you, always has, and always will. Take a moment today to reflect on His unwavering love for you. Reach out in prayer, open your heart to His presence, and let the transformation begin.
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
Mercy, as defined by the dictionary, is the act of extending compassion or forgiveness toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm. We are all born sinners, our nature tainted by selfishness inherited from the original sin that fell on humanity through Adam and Eve. Such transgressions render us deserving of sin’s ultimate consequence: death. Yet, it is through the boundless mercy of God that we find redemption. In His profound compassion, God offered His only Son as a sacrifice to atone for our sins, granting us the opportunity for salvation. This divine mercy replaces punishment with the gracious gifts of salvation, freely given, which cleanses us of our sins and promises eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Savior.
8 One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. 9 She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. 10 Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.”
The story of the Shunammite woman, found in 2 Kings, is about the profit Elisha visiting Shunem, where a wealthy and respected figure showed him great hospitality. She urged him to stay for a meal and whenever he passed by, he would stop there to eat. Recognizing him as a holy man, she told her husband, “This man is a holy man of God. Let’s make a small room on the roof with a bed, table, chair, and lamp for him to stay in whenever he visits us.”
Her story is further marked by a series of miraculous events. Elisha promised her a son, despite her husband’s old age, and the prophecy was fulfilled. However, years later, her son died suddenly, and the Shunammite Woman sought Elisha’s help. Elisha returned with her to Shunem and raised her son from the dead. Later, during a famine, Elisha warned her to leave her land, which she did for seven years. Upon her return, she found her property taken due to her absence, but with Elisha’s intervention, she appealed to the king and had her land restored.
The Lesson: The story of the Shunammite Woman teaches us about the virtues of hospitality, faith, and resilience. To apply these lesson to your own life, focus on being hospitable and generous, even without expecting anything in return. Trust in the process and have faith, especially during difficult times, believing that challenges can lead to growth and restoration. Show resilience by facing hardships with courage and persistence. By sharing your resources to help others and supporting those dedicated to good causes, creating a ripple effect of goodwill, kindness, and compassion in your own community.
The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.
Fathers, you are entrusted with the task of guiding your children in the ways of the Lord. Embrace your role of leadership, embodying a life marked by integrity. Demonstrate to your children the depth of your love and compassion, balanced with the judicious application of discipline. In fulfilling the role envisioned for you by the Creator, you bestow upon your children a profound blessing. Children, honoring, respecting, and obeying your father is not merely a duty, but a commandment of the Lord. It is a cornerstone of your growth and character. To both fathers and children, regardless of your journey’s stage, embrace the truth that perfection is beyond our grasp. Extend forgiveness to one another, mirroring our heavenly Father. In doing so, may you both nurture a content life, rich in peace, and mutual understanding.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.
Hope is reliance on God’s love, His promises, and His Word. It is the anticipation of drawing closer to God and the confidence that no matter what may come, God will see you through it. Hope is the assurance that with God, all things are possible. It is trusting our Savior and the expectation of spending eternity with our heavenly Father. Hope is a blessing from God, and when you place your hope in Him, you will not be disappointed because He always wants the best for us.
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Faith is believing in and completely trusting in the one true God, His Word, and His promises. It is the firm foundation and confidence in God’s power, faithfulness, and love. Faith is the belief in what we hope for, even though we cannot see it now; we know it is to come. It resides in the soul and mind of every believer, and though we cannot see God with their physical eyes, we recognize Him with their spiritual eyes. Our faith sustains us through this life, knowing that by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and through the power of His resurrection, we are assured and expect to be with God in heaven for all eternity.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith; and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
God’s character is gracious, compassionate, giving, and loving. Salvation is a gracious gift from God, born out of His great and eternal love for us. It cannot be bought, earned, or achieved through our own efforts or abilities. It is the free, undeserved favor of God, a gift that can only be received by faith. Through God’s plan and His grace, Jesus paid for this gift when He died on the cross for our sins. As believers, everything we have, everything we are, and everything we do is because of God’s saving, forgiving, and redeeming grace that blesses us all.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
I have witnessed first hand how God’s power transforms lives through the gift of the Holy Spirit. I once was lost but now I’m found, I was blind but now I see. I am no longer the same person I used to be. Now, I am a witness to Christ’s message of love, forgiveness, and salvation. God has granted me power, through the Holy Spirit, to resist the enemy as I stand in His truth. God has been with me through hardships and has given me the strength to persevere. You too are a witness to God’s goodness and can tell others about the wonders the Lord has done in your life.
The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.
Life can be hard, and at times it may even seem unfair. You might face moments that test your strength and resolve, but don’t give up hope. Remember, the Lord has carried you through tough times before, and He will do so again. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, keep your mind on the things above. Focus on God, and He will guide you through the troubles that come your way. In due time, you will be delivered from them all. If not in this present life, then surely in the hereafter, where there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain, but only eternal happiness. Keep praying, cry out to God, and find comfort in knowing that He hears you. Remind yourself of the calm after a storm and the peace that follows a heartfelt prayer. Trust that the Lord’s grace will sustain you, now and always.
The Consecrated Woman 