THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
HI!
Once, when I was about 10, Dad gave me a "joke" present on my birthday.
He came in with this thing (see picture below).
It's called a "bow saw."
And you guessed it, it's used for cutting wood!
Prior to this, Dad and I had always cut wood with a "cross-cut" saw. That requires two people.
But this "bow saw" only required one person!
Dad was telling me I was old enough to start cutting wood by myself!
It was a good gift. It was a working gift.
((Of course, Dad had other presents out in the car, which he gave me later.))
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________SCRIPTURE_______________________________________________
Luke 11:9-13
9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
KJV
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_______THOUGHT____________________________________________________
There's an interesting fact about the Scripture quoted above.
The illustrative lesson comes immediately behind "The Disciple's Prayer."
The disciples had asked Jesus to teach them to pray.
He taught them "The Disciple's Prayer."
But, THEN, He taught them this lesson!
You have a "Father" that loves you. He gives wonderful "gifts." He has given you a "good" gift! Therefore, "ask," "seek," and "knock." You will find that He has given you all you need in His "Holy Spirit!"
God's Holy Spirit:
gave you conviction of sin;
convincing of the need of a Savior;
a desire for commitment to Jesus as Lord.
And, He also gives you: a compelling desire to work for Christ!
Without God's Holy Spirit speaking to your heart, you wouldn't have been saved. (John 6:44)
By God's Holy Spirit, you were "sealed" to the "day of redemption." (Eph. 1:13)
And by God's Holy Spirit, Jesus will "complete" the work of salvation He has begun in you.
(Philippians 1:6)
Praise God for His "good" gift!
Praise God for His working gift!
"Ask," "seek," "knock" for His presence in you today!
Love ya,
Bruce