Grandma Rogers Devotionals

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

FAITH.  We have been talking about faith for a while.  We’ve gone over it one letter at a time.  The last letter — being H — could represent so many different things — all connected to faith.  It could stand for HELP — we have faith in God — He helps us in all things.  It could mean HONOR — an act of worship to our Lord — we give glory and honor to His name.  It could also mean HOUSE or HOME –a place very much worth having when Jesus is always the unseen guest.  We are told HEAVEN is a beautiful place and that Jesus has gone to prepare this place for those who believe in Him.  Our HEARTS are lifted each day when we think of this promise.  There are so many words beginning with H. When Jesus left us, though, He did not leave us comfortless, for He left us a HELPER — the Holy Spirit.  The word spirit, itself, can mean many things.  In scripture, the word spirit is taken to mean the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity. The word spirit, alone, can also mean the spiritual part of man, and signifies the soul which continues in being, even after the death of the body.  We can be very thankful that we have received the “Spirit of Sonship”. We are children of God and being this, we are also fellow heirs with Christ; for if the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead lives within us, then God will also give mortal life to our bodies through His Spirit.  We, too, shall live.

Speaking of the Holy Spirit as a HELPER, we know that he helps us every day in all our problems or weaknesses.  There are times in our lives when we don’t even know how to pray, when words to God just won’t come to our lips.  We know how we feel; we just can’t express it; but, we are told the mind of the Spirit intercedes for us “with sighs too deep for words”.  God knows the mind of the Spirit just as the Spirit knows our mind.  So, our prayer goes out from us, through the HELPER whom Jesus left for us, to God.  Our prayer is answered according to God’s will; and as it says in Romans 8:28—a very familiar verse to all —”And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God…”

We’ve spoken – in the last four devotionals – of many things — all pertaining to faith in our Lord.  When it comes right down “to the bottom line” -as the saying goes – it’s a simple choice, but one of the most important we may ever make.  Today is before us.  We can choose to live it alone, or with Jesus; to accept Him, or reject Him; to have life, or death; to be faithless—or have faith abundantly.  Therefore, since the choice is ours, let us choose faith.

I would like to close with a poem that tells of Jesus ministry, of despair, and then, at last, of the greatest faith-producing event that ever happened in all of history — the resurrection of our Lord.  The title is “From Sandals To Glory”  and it goes like this—

Sandals and robes

Long dusty trails

Walking through towns

Healing all ails.

Group of disciples

Follow this man.

Gathering crowds listen,

Some understand.

Some disbelieving,

Listen no more.

In sadness and sorrow

He walks by a shore.

Plans to betray Him,

Kiss on His cheek

Beginning of ending

Last earthly week.

Judgment.  Conviction.

Sentenced to die.

Hung on a cross

For us — you and I.

Three days of darkness.

Stone rolled away.

Tomb very empty

First Easter day.

Seen by a woman.

Others see, too.

Stunned – then believing.

Most of them do.

One still a doubter.

Cannot understand.

Proof shown to Thomas.

Nail scars in His hand.

Imploring him sweetly

His Lord to receive.

“Do not be faithless.

Only believe”

Forty days later

Ascension in sky.

Home to His Father;

Our home by and by.

Down through all ages

Story still grows

Circling the earth

Until everyone knows.

A man called Jesus,

Human. Divine.

Died. Rose. And living.

Your Savior — and mine.

Dear Heavenly Father,  we thank you for your plan of salvation for all mankind; and we thank you for the FAITH in your son, Jesus, that is given to us when we believe.

In His name we pray.  Amen

Tags: Faith, hearts, heaven, help, spirit
Filed under: Devotionals